PROVERBS 3:6 (NKJV) In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths.
A young friend of mine shared her story with me recently. For the last year, she and her family were planning and preparing with certain goals in mind'-goals they thought God had directed. Then, suddenly, a circumstance beyond their control changed everything. The path ahead was barricaded and they stood at a crossroad bewildered and confused, not knowing which way to turn.
That morning she picked up one of the many Bibles she had in her home. Inside the front cover was a note a teacher wrote to her while she was still in high school. It had only one simple thought, but it changed her day. It said:
"There is always a plan, and there is always a purpose. Always!"
Remembering that brought her comfort, and although the confusion lingers in her mind over why things changed so drastically and so suddenly, she knows that her heavenly Father has it all under control. His ways are perfect. His plan is sure.
Whatever circumstance you're facing today, God knows. He has a plan and a purpose for it all. And He also has a promise for you to cling to as you pass this way. Get into His word and find that promise. Repeat it in your mind and hold it dear to your heart as you let go of old plans and find His direction for today.
PRAYER: God, bless my friend and her family. Direct their path so that they can see Your plan and Your purpose clearly.
WORDS TO PONDER: 'Never dismiss the value of life experiences. They are part of the way God teaches us.' Charles Stanley, Advancing Through Adversity
I KINGS 20:5 NKJVI have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you.
REVELATION 21:4'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'
It was on a Good Friday in the early 1900s, when Dr. Adam Geibel, noted hymn writer, and his family received news that his beloved son-in-law had just been killed in a tragic accident in the steel mill where he worked. Shock and horror gripped his heart and mind.
Although a man of great faith, the unanswered question of why God allowed this to happen plagued Dr. Geibel. Over time, deep depression changed this cheerful being into a man of great sorrow, until one evening he experienced a miraculous transformation.
He told his friends, 'I kept asking God why. Then last night as I was praying about it, for I felt I could go on no longer in this attitude, the Lord, Himself, seemed to say to me, 'Adam, someday you'll understand all about it for someday I'll make it plain to you.''
That moment gave birth to the words and music to this song:
SOMEDAY HE'LL MAKE IT PLAIN TO ME
I do not know why oft 'round me My hopes all shattered seem to be; God's perfect plan I cannot see, . . . But someday I'll understand
CHORUS: Someday He'll make it plain to me, Someday when I His face shall see; Someday from tears I shall be free, For someday I shall understand.
Later two more verses were added by his fellow song-writer, Lida Leech, and the song was published in 1911. Over the decades, this song has provided comfort to many troubled hearts.
When you face an unanswered 'Why?', take comfort in knowing that God has a plan and purpose in His mind. Be assured that He knows and sees your sorrow, and in His time, He'll make it plain to you.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we look forward to the day, when the mysteries of this life will be revealed and our tears will be wiped away. Thank You for that assurance.
Lamenations 3:22-23 (NKJV)Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
For years 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' has been my favorite song. There's something about that majestic old hymn that thrills my heart every time I hear it. While the music stirs my soul, it's the words penned by Thomas O. Chisholm in the 1800's that touch my heart and stir up overwhelming gratitude within me. These words reflect the thoughts of the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, who is often referred to as 'The Weeping Prophet.'
It's interesting that Jeremiah recorded these blessed thoughts of God's faithfulness and compassion after a long, bold statement of his dissatisfaction with life. Lamentations 3:1-20 is his account of pain, sorrow, and sufferings. Then, in the midst of his groaning, the prophet stops complaining and turns his focus to the goodness of God through it all. The man praises God and concludes that apart from His mercies and unfailing compassion, life would be unbearable.
Verse one of Chisholm's song speaks of God's unchanging faithfulness and compassion now and forever. The second stanza reminds us that through all seasons and all times, all of nature praises Him. And the last verse declares that our pardon, our peace, and His presence are among His unlimited blessings that cheer and sustain us through each and every day. Each statement ends with the rousing words of praise:
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see: All I have needed Thy hand hath provided - "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord unto me!
We would all do well to listen to ourselves from time to time to see where our focus is. Are we continually singing the blues about the sorrows of life? Have we lost our joy? Are we stuck in the mire of discouragement and despair? Like Jeremiah, we can turn our focus to the compassion, mercy and faithfulness of Almighty God and find cause for rejoicing. His blessings are new every morning.
PRAYER: Thank You for your unfailing love and kindness, Father, and for the blessings that await me with the dawn of each new day.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
A couple of my friends are preparing to move soon, and I don't envy them. Moving is never easy. It takes work to sort, to get rid of, to pack, to transport, to unpack, and to put in place'-and then to remember where you put everything!
Actually, I'm an expert at moving. In the first ten years after I graduated from college, I moved twelve times- from Michigan to Pennsylvania to France, to Zaire (now called Congo). Then it was back to the U.S. for more training and another transition which took my family to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, and Maryland. After that we went back to France for a few more years, then once more to Missouri, and finally to Pennsylvania.
Those were exciting years of ministering, maturing, and seeing new places. And with all that experience, I mastered the art of packing and unpacking, but the really hard part about moving so often was saying, 'Good-bye', to places we enjoyed, and especially to our family, and the friends we made.
Most often moving involves leaving the familiar and walking into the unknown, and that can be extremely difficult, and sometimes even a bit frightening. Yet no matter where I lived, whether in North America, Europe, or Africa, one Friend never left my side. He never said, 'Farewell'. He never abandoned me. He never said, 'You go ahead and I'll come later.' No, He never left me alone. NEVER!
As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, what a comfort it is to know that His Holy Spirit indwells me, and wherever I go, He goes. I'm never alone. The God of love and peace is always with me.
PRAYER: Living Lord Jesus, what a comfort to have You as my constant companion no matter where I am, or where I may be going. Your presence is my anchor and hope in all things. For this I am truly grateful.
WORDS TO PONDER:'Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;Constantly abiding, rapture divine;He never leaves me lonely, whispers, O so kind:'I will never leave thee,' Jesus is mine.'
-Anne S. Murphy,(1877-1942) from the hymn 'Constantly Abiding'
PSALM 119:130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
On this Fourth of July weekend in America, we're celebrating freedom! What privileges we have in this country, and how grateful we must be to those who have dedicated their lives to overcome the forces that seek to destroy us or put us in bondage on a national level.
But there are many other types of bondage we face every day . . . fear and anxiety, jealousy, guilt, hatefulness, anger, addictions, unforgiveness, bad relationships. These are the enemies of our hearts and minds that try to enslave us. How can we find freedom from this type of bondage? God's Word, always true and never changing, gives us clear direction and infallible principles to live by to help us stand against the enemies that come against us daily.
To overcome worry, fear and anxiety I Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. Psalm 37:3, Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Isaiah 41:13, For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Psalm 91:4-6, He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Read and study Psalm 9:9-10; 34; 37; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalm 3:1-6.
To fight jealousy Psalm 37:7, Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Proverbs 23:17-18, Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Read and study James 4:1-2; Ecclesiastes 4:4. To deal with guilt 1 John 3:20, For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jeremiah 33:8, And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Read and study Psalms 51 and 103; 1 John 1:9; Matthew 11:28-30; Isaiah 1:18; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Psalms 139:23-24; Psalms 32:1-5.
Of course, just reading God's Word isn't a magic cure, but it provides understanding and direction. We have to actually live by Its principles, adjust our thinking to His ways, and put into practice the things we learn there; but reading the Bible is where it starts. Get into God's Word daily'-and let His Word get into you!
For more help, check out some of the helpful articles and devotionals on our website:
ISAIAH 55:6-7Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (NKJV)
The young mother looked weary and worn as I gazed into her eyes. Lines of worry and stress crossed her forehead; years of bad choices and rough living told their story on her face. I was surprised to see her again. It had been 15 years since our paths crossed when she was an angry teenager. Recently at a crossroad in her life, she chose to walk a new path so today is a new day in her life! Now she finds hope and strength in the loving Heavenly Father whom she rejected for so many years. Now she holds on to the hand that was outstretched and waiting for her all the time.
Yes, it's a new day in this woman's life, but this recent decision brings with it a chaotic swirl of effects. Old relationships are strained, threatened or breaking. Others ask, "What happened?" and, "How long will this last?" Children are confused by sudden changes in their home, while other family members rejoice. I rejoice with her, too, as she turns from the past and sees herself as Christ sees her-His chosen and His beloved. There's so much work to do, but even as her friend and sister in Christ, I cannot take those steps for her. Those she must make on her own, but I can pray for her and her situation I can offer her words of encouragement. I can come along in a practical way and provide her with help and support, and these things I do gladly.
For those of you who are tired of living in the old ways and habits that have really taken you nowhere, I encourage you to seek a new way and a new day. Get on your knees before God and accept His gift of salvation or restoration. www.ccesonline.com/4thingsgodwantsyoutoknow.htm
To others who are on that road, but find the journey to recovery slower than you'd like, I say, "Hang in there! Don't give up!" Taking one step at a time is the only way to reach the top of the mountain. The godly choices you make each day will take you one step closer to being all God wants you to be.
To those who are currently walking in the joy of God's fellowship, may I remind you to pray for and encourage those who are not yet where you are. Be a friend, a mentor, a cheerleader and walk beside another as she/he travels on in God's way.
Remember, a new day brings new hope. New hope brings godly change. Godly change brings peace and contentment. Let this be the start of your new day.
Heavenly Father, help us all to see Your outstretched hand and walk day by day with You.
JOHN 14:6 NKJVJesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'
When was the last time you read something that really made you stop and think? The little poem below is one of those pieces, and I hope you'll enjoy it. It was written by a friend of mine.
Folks in Heaven
by J Taylor Ludwig (Copyright 2004. Permission granted to reproduce this as long as it carries the author's name and copyright.)
I was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered heaven's door, not by the beauty of it all nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in heaven who made me sputter and gasp '" the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics, the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor who never said anything nice. Uncle Bill, who I always thought was rotting away in hell, was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal? I would love to hear your take. How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake. 'And why's everyone so quiet, so somber '" give me a clue.' 'Hush, child,' said he, 'they're all in shock. No one thought they would see you.'
The Bible, the completely inspired Word of God, tells us that the way to Heaven is not through riches, fame, heritage, good looks or good works, but through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believing that He is the Son of God who willingly gave His life to pay the sin debt that we owe, and trusting Him alone to be our Savior is the key to eternal. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9, 10, 13)
Have you made that choice? Will your loved ones be seeing you in Heaven?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross so that we may have eternal life. It's a gift beyond compare!
Sometimes making decisions isn't easy! I examine the choices, look carefully at the pieces, weigh the options and the outcomes, and wonder, 'Which way do I go?' 'Should I wait or should I take the next step now?' Of course, the more options there are, the more confusing things can become, but it's a comfort to know that at any given moment, no matter where I am, no matter what my circumstances, My Heavenly Father sees and knows right where I am. This present moment is in His hand.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
-Psalm 23 (NKJV)
Not only does God know where I am right now, He knows how I got here. He knows all the good and all the bad that I experienced along the way. All the baggage, the hurt, the sorrow and frustrations that affect the way I think, feel, and act are known to Him. He understands and He provides all that I need for healing and comfort. My past rests in His hand.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
-Psalm 34:17-19 (NKJV)
Thankfully, God also knows my future and, as I look to Him, He directs my steps. My future is secure, my path is straight because it rests in His hand.
But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
-Job 23:10 (NKJV)
You see, it doesn't matter what time it is in my life, God always knows where I am. At any given moment I can say with certainty, 'He knows where I am now, He knows where I've been, and He knows where I need to go." Therefore, I can safely commit my way to Him knowing that He will direct my path if I lean on Him, (Proverbs 3:5-6).
God, You are so wise, so infinite in Your knowledge and understanding! Thank You that every moment of every day, my times are in Your hand.
GALATIANS 5:13 NKJVFor you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh but through love serve one another.
Jesus said, 'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . . . If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:32, 36)
Truly, in Christ we have freedom the world cannot offer. We are . . . Free from eternal death, which is the penalty of our sin. Free from the need to work for our salvation. Free from the power of sin over us in this life. Free to live in the power of the His Holy Spirit. Free to follow His commands. Free to love and serve others . . . and on and on the list goes.
The Apostle Paul expanded on these truths as he wrote to the believers in Galatia. He reminded them that as followers of Christ they were called to liberty, but he cautioned them not to use that liberty selfishly. Instead, they were to lovingly serve one another. That same command is for us, too.
So how can we serve one another? With current technology, there are myriad ways of encouraging and uplifting others through kind words. Texts, emails, various types of social media, or the old-fashioned, but delightful, means of sending a handwritten card or letter, or making a call.
As you have the opportunity, serve by helping others in practical ways such as running an errand, mowing a lawn, babysitting, sharing a meal with someone, or helping them move. Perhaps you have the gift of counseling, or caring for those who are sick, or comforting those who grieve.
Can you serve by preaching, teaching, and sharing the gospel? There are unlimited ways of serving others, but sometimes circumstances limit which option you choose; however, praying for others is something every believer can do'-and should do.
Since we are called to serve one another, it ought to be something we make a part of our everyday life. How will you do that today? Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you.
PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes to see the needs of others. Help me to use the abilities and resources You have given me to lovingly serve as You have called me to do.
WORDS TO PONDER: 'The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.' -Duquet
DANIEL 6:10 (NKJV)Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Our traditional way of celebrating this Memorial Day holiday is to display the American flag, wear red, white, and blue, and have a picnic, but how about doing something a bit different this year? Why not celebrate with prayer throughout the day? Daniel, an Old Testament hero, gave us the perfect example. He routinely paused to pray three times every day.
In the morning, perhaps at breakfast, take the time to thank the Lord for the thousands and thousands of men and women who have served in our country's military forces in years gone by. Praise Him for their sacrifice of time and energy in serving, and their great contribution to winning our freedoms and keeping our country safe.
In the middle of the day, give thanks for those who are currently a part of our armed forces. Pray for their safety and protection. Ask God watch over and bless their families as well, and to give wisdom to our government and military leaders. Ask Him to touch their hearts and cause them to look to Him for wisdom, direction, and courage to stand for truth.
Finally, in the evening at dinner or perhaps at bedtime, pray for our future leaders, the upcoming elections, and the young men and women who will one day be a part of our country's defense forces.
Many of you reading this live outside of the United States of America so your holidays are different than ours, but you can celebrate as well. No matter where you live, there have been, and currently are, men and women who have had a positive influence on your country, your community, and your own life. Thank God for them and honor them. Pray that you, too, will be used by God to touch the lives of those around you as you live for Him.
Let's make this Memorial Day a true celebration of remembrance, thanksgiving and prayer!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we pause to celebrate the blessings of our nation, let us be ever mindful that these wonderful gifts have all come from You.
WORDS TO PONDER: 'It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'
-George Washington, First President of the United States
