Scripture Reading : Psalm 47, Isaiah 2:1-5 & Ephesians 2:19-22 

But, I don't want you to miss the reason for this praise: “For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared.” (v.2) Does that seem to you like a strange reason to shout and clap with excitement—the fear of God?

 This psalm is a song of praise of God’s sovereign rule over all the earth. Notice with me, 

• He “chose” us
• He “subdued” peoples under us (v.3)
• We have received an inheritance (v.4)
• He is “our King,” 
• He is “the King of all the earth,” (v.7)
• He “reigns over the nations,” (v.8) 
• The “shields of the earth (His tokens of victory from battle) belong to God.”
• All the earth belongs to Him

But also note that our praise does not add to His majesty; it is not for His sake that we are called to praise Him, but our own.

Did you know that praise, joy and enthusiasm is contagious?  Our praise completes our enjoyment of God’s kingship as people in His kingdom. Our praise rises from a grateful heart! 

We cannot help but to praise Him, and in so doing, we share our joy with others, which only adds to our joy and others. 

Beloved, this is the great experience of authentic biblical worship; we together praise God, for He is to be feared as our is our King.

So, let me ask you: 

_ Does praise come easily to your lips? 

_ Does it flow from a grateful heart that cannot help, but praise God?

_ If not, why do you think that it? Unforgiveness? Anger? 

 As I mentioned before praise becomes contagious. Therefore, I'd like to encourage you today to read this psalm to yourself again. Read it out loud. Play your favorite Christian artists as you meditate on these verses. Speak/shout the truths I've listed above --  "He is the King!", "He chose me!", "He reigns over all!" "And has given me an inheritance with His beloved!" ... Shout and give Him praise, for “He is highly exalted”!

And then come on over to WitW and join us in worshiping Him this morning!!

Let's pray:

O Father, I want to worship You this morning, for You are worthy of ALL our praise and worship today and for all eternity. Therefore, I bow before you in reverence. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. You have dominion over everything in the heavens and on earth. Yet you still care about even the smallest details of my life. That’s why I want to rejoice in you each day. You are worthy!

All glory belongs to you. I come to you in prayer to glorify your name - You are my Abba Father. Your unconditional love for me stretches to the highest mountain peaks and reaches to the depths of the seas. It is beyond anything I can fathom. Your love never ends, and great is Your faithfulness!  I love you with all my heart, soul, and mind! Thank you for your faithfulness that endures forever. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Blessings, 

Psalm 46, Ephesians 2:19-22

I love keeping up on the news, social media, and my favorite television programs. But some days I just want quiet. To silence out the chaos of the world and be still. That’s why my favorite button on any device is the mute button. Because there is something so satisfyingly peaceful about shutting out the noise and sitting in silence. That’s how it is with our relationship with God. Sometimes we can hear and see Him work in powerful, amazing ways that cannot be missed. But often times it’s in the quiet, still moments, those times when we mute the world, that we receive our greatest blessings and most powerful revelations from God. 

The phrase “be still”, comes from the Hebrew word, “raphah.” Translated it means to relax, cause yourself to let go, or to let yourself become weak. And although it seems counterintuitive, it’s only when we deliberately surrender all to God, our fears, worries, and hurt, can we really take control of any situation. For as Isaiah 30:15 tells us, “in quietness and trust is your strength.” When we put God in charge, following instead of leading, we are free to walk through every circumstance with an inner quietness only He can provide. Why? Because just like Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Ex.14:14)

I once heard a minister say that when we fight instead of surrender we are actually sinning against God. For we might not only be fighting a battle which is the Lord’s, but fighting against the Lord Himself! There comes a time to lay down our arms and know that God and His will are Sovereign. To leave the fighting to Him and instead seek shelter in His impenetrable fortress. For He is our refuge, our safe port in every storm. And when we place our trust and faith in The Lord, we can experience peace no matter what comes our way.

Being still takes work. It means muting the world and setting aside time to listen for God’s small voice. And as hard as it may be, being quiet, holding our peace, biding our time, and completely trusting in the Lord. For He is a mighty Warrior who is undefeated in every battle and against whom no enemy can stand. He longs for us to surrender to His ability to care, comfort, and fight for His children. And in return for our faithful stillness, God promises to vanquish every fear and conquer every enemy, flooding our hearts and minds with His all encompassing peace and joy!

Pause and Reflect -

When life is hard, how do you respond?  Do you turn away from God, isolate yourself and try to push through?  Or do you lean into God and pray as if your life depends on it? Are you setting aside time each day to be still? Time when you and God meet, talk, and fellowship?

Are you completely surrendered to the Lord? Are you asking Him to speak truth and shine light into your life? When we ask, God will show us areas where we are not still. Areas where we are in control rather than Him, and areas where we refuse to trust Him or obey Him.  

Finally, let’s pray together,

Our dearest Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Father we know You are not blind to the storms that rage in this world. And not just the visible ones, but also the ones hidden in our heart. This world is full of chaos and Father we crave Your peace and safety. We pray for Your refuge and healing strength. When what seems permanent begins to crumble, when devastation ravages the earth, when powers that be claim Your authority, Father may we remember the joy you have set before us. Lord, help us to let go of fear and doubt. Make us still in your waters of gladness. Oh Father we hurry from task to task, from crisis to crisis, carrying the weight of the world. Let us lay down both what keeps us too busy to be still and stillness that is void before You, so that we may lift our eyes to Your glory. And may our focus be on the love and all-sufficiency of You, our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💖 Lisa

Braised Herb Pork Chops

1/4 cup dried parsley flakes

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon ground mustard

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

7 bone-in pork loin chops (1/2 inch thick)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cups thinly sliced onions

4 large garlic cloves, sliced

5 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces

2 cups chicken broth

Good morning and welcome to Scripture Saturday!

I hope you all had a fulfilling week reading Psalms 41 - 45.  These were my verses this week...

“But You have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually, and will give thanks to your name forever.” (Psalm 44:7-8)

Know that God is Faithful shows me that He was, is, and will be present in the midst of any suffering I may go through…that I can continually look back at all that He has done for me and know confidently that He was there and know confidently that He will be now and in my future. (Psalm 44:1-8)

Whether we’re in good times or hard times, God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit’s presence will prove to be our greatest blessing, our greatest treasure, our greatest certainty. He is faithful and keeps all His promises. After all, God’s greatest demonstration of being faithful is the sending of His Son Jesus, to die on the cross for us. Praise Him!

Don't forget to share with us the attribute of God that most spoke to you this week!

Here is this coming week’s schedule of readings…

        Seeing Jesus/Going beyond God’s attributes

Monday 10/31   Psalm 46 Ephesians 2:19-22

Tuesday 11/1     Psalm 47 Isaiah 2:1-5 &

            Ephesians 2:19-22 again

Wednesday 11/2 Psalm 48 Romans 10:8-10

Thursday 11/3     Psalm 49 Galatians 4:2

Friday 11/4     Psalm 50 2 Samuel 12:1-14

*Knowing that God is _____________ shows me that _________________________________.

Here is the link to our study on Facebook...WitW Facebook Page

Have a blessed week everyone!

Sandra

*from Jen Wilkin’s book,  Women of the Word.

Read Psalm 45 & Ruth1:16

We are His!  He is our King! Do you ever think of yourself as the King’s daughter?  Do you know that He is wild about you?   Let’s see what He has to say about being His daughter,

We are to give attention to and incline our ears to His instruction.

Incline- To bend; to cause to stoop or bow; as, to incline the head or the body in acts of reverence or civility.

It is so important that we take time each day to stop, listen and pay attention to Him.  We do that by being in His Word, wholly focused on Him, because He knit us together in our mother’s womb and is intimately acquainted with us.  We have His word and we should be spending time each day reading, memorizing and meditating on it.  Are you struggling to find time to be alone with Him?  Ask Him and He will show you when is a good time to spend with Him.

Forget your people and your father’s house.

We have a good example of Ruth leaving her family behind to follow her mother-in-law.  She chose to follow God and He blessed her abundantly.  In my bible it says the line of David began with her child, Obed.  She and Boaz were ancestors of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Ruth 1:16

Don’t live in the past or even think about it….the Lord is doing new things in our lives.  How can we focus on what He is doing if we are always longing for what was in the past.

 Bow down and honor Him

The hidden person of the heart is a woman who has been transformed from the inside out by God's spirit.  We are not conformed to this world but we are transformed by the renewing of our minds and when we do this we can know the will of God, which is good, acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:1-2

Sarah was an example of this.  She obeyed her husband and was not afraid.  Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; ⁴ but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ⁵

For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right  without being frightened by any fear. 1 Peter 3:3-6 (emphasis mine)

We have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is reserved for us in heaven, protected by the power of God through faith. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. -1 Peter 1:3-5

Prayer

Help me Lord to spend time with You each day.  There are days when this is difficult to do.  I ask you to help me to listen and incline my ear towards You and Your word. Help me to have that gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in Your sight.  To be humble before You and surrendered to Your will in my life.  Lord, I do not want to live in the past because You are doing new things in my life, help me to see them.  Give me understanding, make me walk in Your path for my life, may it be the delight of my soul.  Establish Your word in me.  Help me to always remember that I am Your daughter and You delight in me.  In Jesus name, Amen

Lyn

Today's reading: Psalm 44, Deut. 7:6-8, Job 13:20-24

As I began today’s study our Heavenly Father reminded me of two very difficult seasons in my life:

- After I gave birth to our premature twins I began to suffer from an auto-immune illness which made my hands suffer from a burning pain, itch, break into open sores, etc., because of the great inflammation that would prevail, even though I had gone through all kinds of medical treatments, I would not heal. This went on for almost 15 years.

- Almost as soon as we married, my husband went astray - for about 20 years-

I suffered from these two situations practically at the same time, and in all those years there were moments that I would cry out to the Lord just like the Psalmist did:

^{“ 17} All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant. ¹⁸ Our hearts have not deserted you.  We have not strayed from your path.
¹⁹ Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death. ²⁰ If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods…” (v.17-19)

Yes, I had committed my life to Jesus and all that I had:  my marriage and family, and as I laid them all on the altar, I would continually seek Him, fast and pray… why was I suffering all this? Why if my husband was the one who had walked away from His Paths, I was the one suffering from this illness, and had to undergo other medical surgeries and treatments? There were times when I thought:” Why is God doing this to me?”

I love this quote from Elizabeth Elliot:

 “Why is God doing this to me? When I am tempted to ask that question, it loses its power when I remember that this Lord, into whose strong hands I long ago committed my life, is engineering a universe of unimaginable proportions and complexity… yet He makes note of the smallest seed and the tiniest sparrow. He is not too busy to keep records of even my falling hair. Yet in our darkness we suppose that He has overlooked us. He hasn’t.” (Keep A Quiet Heart)

Then I would fall on my knees and would humbly ask forgiveness for doubting in my heart, and I would seek Him in prayer and fasting, and He would remind me of all His mighty deeds in the past for me and my loved ones (vs.4-8):

“Now, my dear friends, this morning I intend to recall to your minds some of the wondrous things which God has done in the olden time. My aim and object will be to excite your minds to seek after the like; that looking back upon what God has done, you may be induced to look forward with the eye of expectation, hoping that he will again stretch forth his potent hand and his holy arm, and repeat those mighty acts he performed in ancient days.” (C.H: Spurgeon)

Yes, only by His Amazing Grace and strength we had overcome in the past, and I knew in my heart He would do it again, in His time!

He would lead me to several scriptures (I went through the book of Job, many times), that would give me comfort, peace and the faith I needed to wait upon His Timing and the fulfillment of His Purpose in all this:

"Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT)

^“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ¹⁹ For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. “… ²³ And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.” “³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:18,19, 23, 37)

I could mention many more scriptures, which would mean many pages of ALL His wonderful Promises that kept me going through all those years!

-I would like to ask you, have you experienced something similar to what this psalmist experienced?

-Are you or your family recently in a season of hard times, even though in past times God has been gracious to you and yours?

-Which scriptures are the ones that kept you standing firm on your faith and hope?

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father: Thank you for your Word and Promises that speak to our hearts assuring us that You do not hide your face from us, and do not forget our afflictions! That You do not sleep nor slumber, but You Lord are our shade at our right hand. Thank you for You do not reject Your people, but have promised to not leave us nor forsake us. May we be in joyful expectation as You continue Your work in us, and Your mighty wonders among us, as we rest in the fact that nothing can separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus! Amen.

Blessings,

Mari

 

Sometimes we don’t have the answers and we feel as if we are stumbling around trying to find our way through the dark. Sometimes we are in a holding pattern, trying to make a decision and figure out the next steps to take. Sometimes we feel helpless to do anything because our circumstances are so overwhelming and complicated. In times like these, we need a different perspective and focus. As David began to grow weary and distressed, he called out for God to send 2 things…His light and His truth.

“Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” Psalm‬ ‭43‬:‭3‬ ‭

God doesn’t want us to be in darkness. He wants us to walk in the light. There are many references in the Bible to God providing and being light and that light being a resource for us. Jesus is the ultimate light to dispel the darkness of this world. 

 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:6

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. Psalm 18:28

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

David knew that he needed God’s guidance and God’s perspective in order to not become overwhelmed and defeated by his circumstances. He knew that when he could see God’s hand in his life, he could rejoice instead of fret and worry.

“Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” Psalm‬ ‭43‬:‭4‬ 

David also needed God’s truth. He needed to lean on God’s Word and on the knowledge of God’s character and promises. 

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”. Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ 

It can be easy to get discouraged, especially when we are facing difficult circumstances and the days seem long and weary. We may want to give up and throw in the towel but we should be encouraged as David was to pray and ask for Gods to send His light and His truth to help us and guide us. God can use our circumstances to draw us into closer dependence and relationship with Him. 

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28‬-‭31‬ ‭

Reflection: 

1. Are you in a time of waiting or dealing with difficult circumstances? If so, to what degree are those circumstances directing your focus?
2. Do you need guidance and wisdom to deal with your circumstances? 
3. Have you asked God for light and truth to help you have the right perspective?

Prayer: Father, we need your light and your truth as we walk through the dark valleys of this present life. Circumstances can become our focus instead of Your truths and promises. We can forget that our limited perspective keeps us from seeing You at work as You orchestrate the more eternal, bigger picture with ultimate wisdom and sovereignty. May our circumstances draw us closer to You and may we trust that You will give us the resources we need to persevere and overcome. 

 Today's Reading: Psalm 42 &  Jonah 2:1-9

Deep calls to deep... What exactly does that mean? I've often heard this phase used in songs or poetry and I've always wondered what exactly was the writer referring to, so when I learned that I was assigned to write on Psalm 42 today, I decided it was time to research this psalm to find out its meaning!

I truly believe for us to get  the utmost from our study in the psalms this year, we need to gather as much information as we can from Hebrew scholars, for it is their wisdom that will bring more life to the psalm for us. That being said, I want to start with a bit of the back ground to this psalm and you can tell me later if you concur. 

The psalm begins: 

__Book II - Psalm 42-72

There are actually five books included in the Book of Psalm and we have now already  completed the first book! (I hope that makes you feel accomplished!) Book 1 ends with this important refrain, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel—From eternity unto eternity, Amen and Amen.”(Psalm 41:14). This refrain or some form similar will close out each of the books of psalm with Psalm 150 being just one big blessing to God. (Pretty neat, huh?)

__For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

I previously shared that the term Maskil  probably comes from the Hebrew verb (sakal), which means, “to understand.” 

Here's an interesting note I hadn't shared before:

 "Typically, this has been seen either as a liturgical term or a musical tune or beat to which this psalm would be sung. Some scholars have thus understood these Maskils to be memory verses and others have suggested that it is simply a designation for wisdom literature put to music"  _(The Preacher's Study emphasis mine)

(Since I've been trying to put more Scriptures to memory, I thought that was pretty neat that they too put verses to music in order to remember them better.)

Psalm 42 was written by the "Sons of Korah". The sons of Korah were leaders of the tabernacle and because it is mentioned how he “used to go to the house of God . . . with shouts of joy” (verse 4), and also writes as if he is east of the Jordan River (verse 6), and he hears the taunting of an enemy (verse 10), it is believed that the writers of this psalm were accompanying King David as he was driven from Jerusalem by his rebellious son Absalom (2 Samuel 15). 

As David and those faithful to him fled for their lives, they are looking back in sadness at their home of Jerusalem. Psalm 42 is essentially a record of their thoughts during that time of exile and the longing they feel in their hearts for home and all that is familiar to them. 

I found this description in Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students and thought it summed up the phase beautifully: “The deep of man’s need calleth unto the deep of God’s fulness; and the deep of God’s fulness calleth unto the deep of man’s need. Between our emptiness and His all-sufficiency there is a great gulf. . . . Deep calleth unto deep. The deep mercy of God needs our emptiness, into which it might pour itself. . . . Nothing can fully meet the depth of our need but the depth of His Almighty fulness” (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971. Vol. 8, p. 11.)

Have you ever experienced that sense of longing? 

We can understand the meaning of deep calls to deep when we recognize that our needs are great, but the riches of God are greater. Our wisdom and understanding is finite, but His knowledge and judgments are infinite and unsearchable (Romans 11:33–34). The height, breadth, and depth of God’s resources are without measure and I personally believe God purposely takes us through periods like that to show us not only our need, but His riches and ability to meet ALL our needs.

How amazing is it to know that He seeks us out? He searches our innermost being. He desires us, wretched sinners that we are. When we had/have no desire for Him, He still pursues us. His breath gives us life; His Spirit awakens our soul. He gives us the ability to see His beauty and love in ways that are only possible through Him. 

In the depths of the sons of Korsh's despair, they found help in the depth of God’s goodness, and they were able to say in conclusion, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11).

Time to Reflect:

Can you recall a time in your past when God answered your deep, heart-felt longing? Perhaps the situation hadn't changed at that time, as in the case of this psalm, but being reminded of God's care, compassion and His involvement made all the difference? 

Are you quick to pour your heart out to God, or are you one who keeps it suppressed too long?

I hope you'll come share on WitW and brag on our Father and Savior a bit today.

Let's Pray:

O Father, deep calls to deep so my heart longs to answer your call to go deeper and more intimate in my relationship with You. I can actually thank You for the times of loneliness and despair, for even then I am never alone, and now I realize that it is in those seasons when I grow to know and love You more. Forgive me for the times when my thoughts turn inward and I grow sorrowful and depressed, and help me to run to You right away. Help me to remember You are always there calling me deeper. In Your precious Son's name I pray. Amen. 

Blessings,

Psalm 41, Hebrews 10:1-10

I read a quote that warned, “not everyone you fight is your enemy. And not everyone who helps you is your friend.” Throughout our lives we will experience hurt, betrayal, and disappointment at the hands of others. And in those moments we have a choice to make. Will that pain make us better or bitter? 

Better is using the hurt to grow closer to the Lord, and softening our hearts to the pain and needs of others. Bitter does just the opposite. It takes glee in retribution and seeing others misfortune. Bitter turns a blind eye to the suffering of another because its focus is only on self pity. King David had much cause to be callus, cruel, and uncaring. Yet because he had a heart that sought after God’s, he made the choice to be better. For he knew that to receive blessings and mercy, he had to give blessings and mercy.

We all fall short and sin daily against God. Yet from His wonderful love, He extends to us His unmerited grace and mercy. And when we have been sinned against, God calls us to show that same grace and mercy. To repay evil with kindness, curses with blessings, and mistreatment with prayer. (Luke 6:27-28) And most importantly of all, if we see a need to meet that need. Because if we do, in return we are promised some pretty amazing things!

David says that if we care for the needy we can cry out, “O, Lord, be gracious to me.” (Ps. 41:4) And our God will deliver the victory in our own day of trouble. Our enemies, try as they might, will find only discouragement because God will protect us from their wickedness. The  blessings we receive will be so bountiful, they will be known around the world. And during times of sickness, we will have by our side the Great Physician. Who with His loving arms, will hold and sustain us! 

We all know that actions speak louder than words. As Christians, hearing and knowing God’s Word is vital. But even more important is putting that Word into action. Because if as believers we aren’t actively out demonstrating the Lord’s goodness through loving acts, charity, and edifying speech, than we become ineffective witnesses for the Lord. And worse yet, we miss out on receiving God’s best for our lives. For as Jesus taught, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13-14) So in times of hurt what will you choose? To be better or to be bitter? 

Pause and Reflect - 

Has a trusted friend disappointed you, perhaps even betrayed you? Did that pain push you toward or away from God? Do you truly believe the Lord will never disappoint or betray you? How do you know? 

How do you treat others? Before we can claim God’s promises, we must examine our own hearts to see if we have sincerely met the conditions the Lord has given. Whether it be with time, acts of service, or money, are you actively looking to meet the needs of the suffering? 

Finally let’s pray, 

Our dearest Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Father we know that it is Your will to help those that are afflicted, to support the weak, provide for the widows and orphans, and help those that are in need. May our eyes be open to the suffering around us. And may our hearts be open to hearing and obeying Your call. Father use our hands to help the hurting. And use our voices to speak words of healing and encouragement to those that are afflicted and in distress. Oh Father You are our great Healer, Comforter, and Way Maker. May we demonstrate Your love and goodness to a hurting world. And instead of angry, bitter hearts of stone, Father replace them with hearts like Jesus. Ones that want to love and give as generously as You do. For Father our greatest desire is to lead lives that both glorify and are pleasing to You. So we praise and give thanks to the God of Israel who has always been and will always be. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

 Lisa