David

My Future Is In Your Hands - Psalm 31

11:00 AM

 


Psalm 31, Luke 23:44-46, 1 Peter 3:10-13

One of the age old questions asked about God is how a loving Father could allow suffering in this world. I mean for the evil to suffer is one thing. But how could our Father let us, His precious children, become broken in pain and filled with sorrow? Look at David. He is called by God Himself a man after His own heart.(Acts 13:22) Yet even he was not immune to suffering. For his life story too is one of tragedy and triumphs, successes and failures. 


In writing the Psalms, many times David was grieved to the point of physical pain. I can sure relate. Because I too have felt such grief that not only did I feel mentally, but physically sick as well. Times when my heart literally ached and I couldn’t breathe, or take another step. Hurting so much that all I could do was drop to my knees in agony and cry out, “Father!” And also like David, I have received the loving, comforting care of my soul that comes from my Heavenly Father. A care that only He can provide.


Sadly, as long as there is sin there will be suffering. And this side of heaven we may not understand the reason behind God letting it in our lives. But like David, we can trust that no matter the suffering we endure, God always has a purpose for our pain. I think of Jesus. Satan appeared before Him in the wilderness and offered Jesus the crown without the Cross. (Matthew 4:8) Christ could have walked away from the cup of agony He was about to drink. But Jesus chose to suffer. To see the Father’s will done no matter the cost. And because of what He endured, we are now blessed with the gift of eternal life.


Our suffering too can be a blessing for others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that we who have suffered and received God’s comfort, can pass that same comfort on to others. For who better to empathize than someone who has suffered from the same cause? And who better to testify of the care, love, and comfort God gives during suffering than someone who has experienced it first hand?


We will all have painful times. But our future is held securely in the hands of the One who controls the storms. No matter what we face, God will be there as our impenetrable fortress every step of the way. So trust in His perfect wisdom. And cling to His beautiful promise to, “Comfort all who mourn, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness.” (Is. 61:3) 


Pause and Reflect -

Do you trust in God and His perfect wisdom? Romans 8:28 tells us God uses all things for our good. Do you believe that? Has God taken a suffering and turned it into a blessing in your own life? 


Even through his suffering, David found great joy knowing God cared about each and every problem he faced. Can you find joy in the midst of suffering knowing God cares? How does the Lord’s steadfast, loyal love bring you peace in your pain?


Finally, let’s pray together -

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be thy name. Father, You are our rock and fortress. And in we find our joy. We know that while we are on this earth Father, we will face our share of trials, suffering, and hurt. But through it all we trust in Your goodness, promises, and love. Lord we pray that You will lead and guide us through the twists and turns of life, comforting us along the way. And we thank You that no matter what we face, Your grace is sufficient. Like David, Father we have taken refuge in You. And for Your righteous name's sake, May you graciously deliver us out of the difficulties we face. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen. 


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


💕 Lisa


Challenge for 2022

Rejoicing in the Future

9:20 AM

 

“She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh without fear at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25

Have I told you yet how excited I am that our first challenge for 2022 is dealing with anxiety? I am SO excited, for I truly believe anxiety among women is on the rise!

Today’s culture conveys to women that we must be focused on achievements, higher pay, and external beauty according to the world’s fashions, and youthful appearances that comes from plastic surgery, etc.

But a woman of faith loves God with all her heart, soul, and strength (Mt 22:37). She is filled with the Holy Spirit and lives in freedom because of her faith in Christ Jesus.

Because of her faith she walks with strength and dignity in peace and is able to experience overwhelming joy not anxiety.

Because of her faith she is also fearless about the future, for she is ready to face anything with God, and merely “laughing at the days to come.”

So, let’s break down Proverbs 31:15 so that this freedom that is available to all His daughters is found in us.

 “She is clothed…”

We only need to go into any large department store these days to see how much value women place on clothing, but 1 Peter 3:3 says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.” Rather, the godly woman will be clothed with her Christ-like character.

 

More of our attention should be set on the conditions of our heart as opposed to our outside shell that is fading away.

 

 “She is clothed with strength and dignity;”
These two traits fit nicely together, for you won’t find strength of character without the dignity, and you won’t find dignity in a person who is weak.

 

Unfortunately, the culture today seems to be defining a “strong woman” as one who is sassy, disrespectful, insolent and truly un-dignified. Our culture seems to call anger- strength and it’s hurting especially the younger generations in my opinion.

 

But God’s word is clear, meek has never been a synonym for weak and true strength of character comes from strength in The Spirit (Lk 1:80) that comes from our faith in Christ Jesus.

 

 “She can laugh without fear at the days to come.”
_She can laugh because she has lived so wisely and is prepared for whatever may come.

_She can laugh for she knows her God is faithful to His promises.

_She can laugh at the aging that is inevitable because she knows her true beauty is her gentle and quiet spirit within her.  

_She can laugh for she is not running after the things the world is after, but carefully looks to trusting and leaning on her Savior, and encouraging others to do the same.


Blessings,


sue


future

Commending a Crook {Luke 16}

5:00 PM





Monday Jan. 27, "Walking in Wisdom”


Jesus often taught earthly stories with heavenly meanings, called parables. And usually the stories He told were clear in meaning. But the parable of the “Unjust Steward” upon first glance appears to find the Lord commending a crook. For in it we find Jesus seemingly condoning the dishonesty of an unrighteous manger. Yet in truth, Jesus uses the story to teach the importance of caring about our futures, and to warn against the worship of wealth above God. 

The story begins with a wealthy man who hires a steward to manage his finances. When accusations arise against the steward, the wealthy man fires him, asking for a final account of his records before the steward leaves. Panicked because his hands are too soft for physical labor and his pride too big to beg, the steward concocts a plan to secure his future and ensure that, “when I am removed from the management people will welcome me into their homes.” (vs. 4) He calls together those who owe the rich man money. And after asking what each one owed, he made new, fraudulent bills reducing the amount due. So what does the wealthy man do when he discovers he’s been cheated? He gives the “unrighteousness steward” a pat on the back for being so clever. To which Jesus follows with, “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.”(vs. 9) Wait...what? Did Jesus just say that we are to model the behavior of a thief? Well...yes and no.

We know of course that Jesus isn’t telling us to emulate the dishonesty of the steward. But He is telling us to practice the shrewdness of the steward in providing for the future. “The sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.” (vs. 8). As wicked as he was the steward, knowing he was going to have to give an account of his actions to his master, was shrewd enough to first secure his future. Jesus instructs us to do the same. Romans 14:12 reminds us that one day, “each of us will give an account of himself to God.” And before that day comes, unlike the steward who set his sights on wealth for earthly gain, we as Christians need to be setting our sights on wealth for heavenly gain; storing up for ourselves, “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20)

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (vs. 13) Each of us are God’s stewards. And the wealth He blesses us with, whether it be in the form of money, the ability to teach, a tender heart, or a giving spirit, He expects us to be faithful in managing for the glory of His kingdom. Righteously serving God with our riches, also keeps wealth from taking God’s place in our hearts and leading us  into trouble. For as 1 Timothy 6:10 warns, “the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

So until the day when we stand before God, may we each, as the Lord’s just stewards, joyfully and faithfully continue to go about the Master’s business remembering, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23-24)





Angie Benjamin

The Gift of Peace {Isaiah 24:1-27:13}

2:32 AM


    You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.- Isaiah 26:3

Isaiah 26:3 promises that God will keep us in perfect and constant peace when are minds remain fixed in HIM. That is when we make the decision of focus our thoughts in Him and not on our circumstances.

When we allow our minds to wander and think of all what we have done or have to do we push ourselves out of the perfect peace of God and we open the doors to anxiety and worry.

Some time back I read that there are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One is yesterday with its mistakes and cares. Its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we’ve said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we shouldn’t worry about is tomorrow. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendor, or behind a mask of clouds but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day. Today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day at a time. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad, it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.




Here’s what God says about yesterday:


“…forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Phil.3:13)

“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)

Here’s what God says about tomorrow:


“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt.6:34)

“Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Prov.27:1)

Here’s what God says about today:


“This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Are you anxious or worried today? Turn your thoughts towards Him so that you experience His perfect peace. Peace that surpasses all understanding.