Faithful means loyal and loyal means steadfast allegiance. If you promise something, are you faithful to keep your word? Sometimes we forget what we have promised until someone reminds us. Here's one for you: Are you on time for appointments, are you on time meeting a friend or business associate? Do you think it doesn't matter if you are a few minutes late? I know someone that can be an hour late and think nothing of it.
I am not sure what people are thinking when they are not faithful to appointments or faithful to their word. Is it because in their mind other people's time isn't important or what do you think it might be? I really am not sure as I love to be early for mine, I would rather wait than have someone wait on me, but this study isn't about me, it is for me. There is something I need in this particular study, so let's see what it is.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 "This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him: If we endure, We shall also reign with Him: If we deny Him, He also will deny us: If we are faithless, He remains faithful: He cannot deny Himself."
In other words, God is faithful even if we are not. When it says if we died with Him, it means that if we have died to our self and our wishes. If we endure, we shall also be with Him forever; it is not easy to endure unless we have Him right there beside us; if we deny Him , he will deny us; we don't want that to happen do we? We want to be sure that we don't deny Him in our actions, our speech, and we can also deny Him by the look on our countenance. In other words He wants us to copy His faithfulness.
What is your picture of God? I had a mean, jealous stepfather and I didn't realize it but as I grew older, I pictured God that way and it was only about ten years ago that I realized that I was doing that. It is normal for a child to look up to their father as he must represent God to them and so children grow up picturing God like their father was. Sometimes it is a great thing with the right kind of father but with me, the first father I knew was an alcoholic and the second one was mean and jealous. The first one tried to kill my mother and I heard her screaming in the night and ran to see what was wrong and it saved her life. So what kind of picture of God do you think I formed with this kind of example? Not a good one to be sure.
I saw God as glowering at me and waiting to get me for something I did wrong. What a picture for a person to have of a loving, forgiving and faithful God. He is our Father you know, so we need to forget about all the stuff we have pictured Him as and remember His faithful sayings, because He is faithful in all that He does for us and will always be faithful, so if you have had a distorted picture of God, see Him as smiling at you with a very loving, forgiving countenance and begging you to be like Him and welcoming you home someday. It is our reward for believing in His faithfulness, can it get any better than that? Grandma Joan
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Hope Postponed
How's your hopes today? I have been wanting to study this subject and get to the bottom of it if I can. Not sure just how much information I can gather on it. But hope that it will be a blessing to all of us.
Have you ever had your hopes all up about doing something or going somewhere and then it didn't turn out? I have and it isn't fun is it? Here's an example from me. I had high hopes that I would sell my home this summer and be able to go visit my eldest son in Missouri and now the summer is nearly over and it hasn't sold yet. Then I read this verse in the Bible.
Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred (or postponed) makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." I take that to mean that when it does come about, it will be a greater blessing than you would expect it to be. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me. I am sure I will be thankful that He waited to sell my home.
For a while my heart was sick because both my son in Missouri and I were really looking forward to spending the summer together, he likes to garden and so do I, but I can't do much any more but I try to do what I can. It was a great hope, but then I read the verse about hope deferred and decided I had better be patient and see what God has in store for me. Which is a lot better than stewing over what hasn't happened.
Lamentations 3:26 "It is good that one should hope and wait patiently for the salvation of the Lord"
So there it is, it is good to hope and wait patiently for the Lord to do His work in and for us. Here's another verse that helps with hope being deferred.
Romans 5:5 "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." And that is so true, when I read about hope being deferred and when the desire came about it would be like a tree of life, I now understand why I was able to get over the disappointment and look forward to a better sale or whatever God has in store.
There is nothing wrong with hoping but we need to be patient with our hopes just in case God has something better planned for us and He never disappoints us. It will be interesting to know just what He has planned for me. I know I won't be disappointed.
How about you, do you have hopes that have been deferred? I am sure that most everyone has and it is so true that it does make the heart sick when it doesn't come to pass like we had planned, but when our desires are realized, it is like a tree of life. What does it mean when it says, 'it is like a tree of life'? I believe it means that it will be something that we will be overjoyed with and glad that we were patient.
Once in a while someone will come and look at the house etc. and I would sort of get my hopes up and nothing happens, so now when someone comes to look, I let them look and leave it with God to do as He pleases with my home. I am positive it will be the best thing that I could have done.
So don't give up, whatever your hopes are, be patient and let God have His way with your hopes and dreams. He will come through if you allow Him to. Grandma Joan
Have you ever had your hopes all up about doing something or going somewhere and then it didn't turn out? I have and it isn't fun is it? Here's an example from me. I had high hopes that I would sell my home this summer and be able to go visit my eldest son in Missouri and now the summer is nearly over and it hasn't sold yet. Then I read this verse in the Bible.
Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred (or postponed) makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." I take that to mean that when it does come about, it will be a greater blessing than you would expect it to be. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me. I am sure I will be thankful that He waited to sell my home.
For a while my heart was sick because both my son in Missouri and I were really looking forward to spending the summer together, he likes to garden and so do I, but I can't do much any more but I try to do what I can. It was a great hope, but then I read the verse about hope deferred and decided I had better be patient and see what God has in store for me. Which is a lot better than stewing over what hasn't happened.
Lamentations 3:26 "It is good that one should hope and wait patiently for the salvation of the Lord"
So there it is, it is good to hope and wait patiently for the Lord to do His work in and for us. Here's another verse that helps with hope being deferred.
Romans 5:5 "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." And that is so true, when I read about hope being deferred and when the desire came about it would be like a tree of life, I now understand why I was able to get over the disappointment and look forward to a better sale or whatever God has in store.
There is nothing wrong with hoping but we need to be patient with our hopes just in case God has something better planned for us and He never disappoints us. It will be interesting to know just what He has planned for me. I know I won't be disappointed.
How about you, do you have hopes that have been deferred? I am sure that most everyone has and it is so true that it does make the heart sick when it doesn't come to pass like we had planned, but when our desires are realized, it is like a tree of life. What does it mean when it says, 'it is like a tree of life'? I believe it means that it will be something that we will be overjoyed with and glad that we were patient.
Once in a while someone will come and look at the house etc. and I would sort of get my hopes up and nothing happens, so now when someone comes to look, I let them look and leave it with God to do as He pleases with my home. I am positive it will be the best thing that I could have done.
So don't give up, whatever your hopes are, be patient and let God have His way with your hopes and dreams. He will come through if you allow Him to. Grandma Joan
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Days of Trouble
I shouldn't even ask this question because I don't know of anyone who hasn't had days of trouble, but I will ask anyway, Have you had days of trouble? Or maybe I should ask you if you never have had days of trouble? I am sure you have had days that were actually overwhelming, I know that I have. I clearly remember a time a few years back when the tears wouldn't stop for days, I even sought counseling to help me, by the way it had nothing to do with my husband. Nothing worked that I said or did and finally I left it in the Lord's hands to do whatever He needed to do to make it come out alright. I know that some of you have been through times of trouble such as that was and I sympathize with you completely. It is a hard road to walk, and there are times when we don't know if we will make it but there is a way out, and it really is an easy way out.
Psalms 50:15 "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." I was really truly delivered, from my time of trouble at that particular time. God did it too, I had nothing to do with it and couldn't have done anything anyway, it was out of my hands.
Psalms 27:5 "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. I don't remember being set high upon a rock but I do remember of being able of doing something that I had often yearned to do and that was being a church organist. I loved it and have never forgotten the privilege that was mine to play for church. He also hid me in His pavilion long enough for me to survive my days of trouble and for that I am forever grateful.
Psalms 91:15 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him; and honor him." I have called so many times in my life and He has answered so many more times than I have called, even before I called. I don't know about Him honoring me, am not sure about that but some day perhaps He will or has and I didn't recognize it. Sometimes I am pretty slow at catching on.
I have survived all the troubles so far that have come to me by His grace and His excellent promises that mean so much to me. I know some of you are going through days of trouble right now or have been and I pray that you will be faithful in calling upon Him who is always ready to deliver you. Be faithful my friend and you will be honored by Him who loves you so much. Grandma Joan
Psalms 50:15 "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." I was really truly delivered, from my time of trouble at that particular time. God did it too, I had nothing to do with it and couldn't have done anything anyway, it was out of my hands.
Psalms 27:5 "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. I don't remember being set high upon a rock but I do remember of being able of doing something that I had often yearned to do and that was being a church organist. I loved it and have never forgotten the privilege that was mine to play for church. He also hid me in His pavilion long enough for me to survive my days of trouble and for that I am forever grateful.
Psalms 91:15 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him; and honor him." I have called so many times in my life and He has answered so many more times than I have called, even before I called. I don't know about Him honoring me, am not sure about that but some day perhaps He will or has and I didn't recognize it. Sometimes I am pretty slow at catching on.
I have survived all the troubles so far that have come to me by His grace and His excellent promises that mean so much to me. I know some of you are going through days of trouble right now or have been and I pray that you will be faithful in calling upon Him who is always ready to deliver you. Be faithful my friend and you will be honored by Him who loves you so much. Grandma Joan
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Transforming our Communication
I like to visit with people, how about you? I think I am becoming one who really enjoys being alone and I am not sure I like that but I have noticed that when I am with family any part of my family, I really enjoy that to the fullest. I am recovering from my husband's death even though I still miss him and at times wonder if I am recovering but I know that I am and God has been so good to me. I do miss having someone to lean on and talk to who understands me and where I am coming from but as a whole I am doing fine.
Today I was impressed with the thought that our communication needs some transforming, I don't know about you but I am sure I will benefit from this study and hope everyone else does too.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of having some favorite 'by words' so to speak, I use to have quite a few to be honest with you and most of them didn't make any sense at all and I noticed that people I was around would pick them up from me and it started me thinking about what I was saying. Have you noticed that?
Right now I am talking about innocent phrases that pop out without thinking but then there are other words that are not so innocent, such as using God's name in vain when the Bible is so very clear about that in the Commandments in Exodus 20;7 "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless who takes His name in vain." God's name is on the lips of so many these days that it actually makes me cringe with horror when I think of the end results of using it so frivolously. He is a Holy God and worthy of our reverence and our praise but certainly not using His name in a frivolous manner.
Then there is the filthy words that come out of people's mouths and I can't understand why. Why do people fall for the filth of this world as their bases of communication? In fact I have heard words that I haven't even known the meaning of until someone explained it to me.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Our speech should impart grace to others who are listening. I pray that mine does.
I use to think it was smart to say catchy phrases and sometimes it caused me to get attention and that was great too. But the more I study the Word of God the more I am conscious of what I say or repeat of what others say.
God knew what the world was coming to and so He gave us all the cautions to protect us from falling into the devil's trap. Like this one:
Colossians 3:8-10 "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."
That about covers it doesn't it? Blasphemy means to speak of in an irreverent, impious manner, so any time we use God's name or any thing concerning the Godhead, in an irreverent way, we are blaspheming His Holy name. It gives me the shivers to think that I could be guilty of such a thing. I truly pray that you are not.
Here is what our words should be:
Psalms 18:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."
I hope this little study helped you as much as it has me, I don't want my speech to belittle my Best Friend in the sight of others. What must they think of me if I do this, my light wouldn't shine very far, would it?
I have to tell you a little story about my eldest son, he was out in the world living a hard life and I probably wouldn't want to know it all, but one day he called me and said, 'Mom, I really want to be a Christian but I don't know how', and I tried my best to tell him to lay all his sins at the foot of the cross and ask God to take them and then tell him how sorry you are that you have hurt Him like you have. This he did, and he called me back and told me that when he had called me, he was craving a smoke so bad his lungs were hurting and he finally gave in to my suggestion and he said that immediately it left him and never came back. He also said that when he went to work the next day that a huge piece of wood fell on his foot and normally a whole long list of bad words would come out and all he said was 'ouch' and it startled him to think that God had even cleaned up his language and his chewing and his drinking and drugs and made a new person out of him right then and there. God is such an amazing God, when we mean what we say, He means what He says and His promises come true in our life. Why not let him clean up your life in such an amazing way? He will do it.
Grandma Joan
Today I was impressed with the thought that our communication needs some transforming, I don't know about you but I am sure I will benefit from this study and hope everyone else does too.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of having some favorite 'by words' so to speak, I use to have quite a few to be honest with you and most of them didn't make any sense at all and I noticed that people I was around would pick them up from me and it started me thinking about what I was saying. Have you noticed that?
Right now I am talking about innocent phrases that pop out without thinking but then there are other words that are not so innocent, such as using God's name in vain when the Bible is so very clear about that in the Commandments in Exodus 20;7 "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless who takes His name in vain." God's name is on the lips of so many these days that it actually makes me cringe with horror when I think of the end results of using it so frivolously. He is a Holy God and worthy of our reverence and our praise but certainly not using His name in a frivolous manner.
Then there is the filthy words that come out of people's mouths and I can't understand why. Why do people fall for the filth of this world as their bases of communication? In fact I have heard words that I haven't even known the meaning of until someone explained it to me.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Our speech should impart grace to others who are listening. I pray that mine does.
I use to think it was smart to say catchy phrases and sometimes it caused me to get attention and that was great too. But the more I study the Word of God the more I am conscious of what I say or repeat of what others say.
God knew what the world was coming to and so He gave us all the cautions to protect us from falling into the devil's trap. Like this one:
Colossians 3:8-10 "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."
That about covers it doesn't it? Blasphemy means to speak of in an irreverent, impious manner, so any time we use God's name or any thing concerning the Godhead, in an irreverent way, we are blaspheming His Holy name. It gives me the shivers to think that I could be guilty of such a thing. I truly pray that you are not.
Here is what our words should be:
Psalms 18:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."
I hope this little study helped you as much as it has me, I don't want my speech to belittle my Best Friend in the sight of others. What must they think of me if I do this, my light wouldn't shine very far, would it?
I have to tell you a little story about my eldest son, he was out in the world living a hard life and I probably wouldn't want to know it all, but one day he called me and said, 'Mom, I really want to be a Christian but I don't know how', and I tried my best to tell him to lay all his sins at the foot of the cross and ask God to take them and then tell him how sorry you are that you have hurt Him like you have. This he did, and he called me back and told me that when he had called me, he was craving a smoke so bad his lungs were hurting and he finally gave in to my suggestion and he said that immediately it left him and never came back. He also said that when he went to work the next day that a huge piece of wood fell on his foot and normally a whole long list of bad words would come out and all he said was 'ouch' and it startled him to think that God had even cleaned up his language and his chewing and his drinking and drugs and made a new person out of him right then and there. God is such an amazing God, when we mean what we say, He means what He says and His promises come true in our life. Why not let him clean up your life in such an amazing way? He will do it.
Grandma Joan
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Learning to Lean
Learning is acquiring knowledge through experience or instruction. I like to say that life is the greatest teacher. I have been leaned on and I have leaned on. How about you? There is always something to learn and I am still learning and probably will never quit.
I am learning something that I didn't plan on learning, and that is to lean on others for help when you need it. I hate to say this but I feel very embarrassed to ask for help even if I really need it and suffer by not asking. Is that something you are acquainted with? I may be an odd ball when it comes to that but it hurts me to ask for help. I didn't want to get like this and it has taken a lot of pain, to learn this hard lesson.
Others will help and willingly if we ask. It is just the asking that hurts. I would rather suffer than ask. Am I odd or what? Oooooh, it just dawned on me that my pride is getting in the way of asking for help. Really, it just dawned on me that it is pride, I knew that I had a proud spirit but I thought God had taken it away but here it is getting in my way again. Please God help me with this ugly truth.
I wasn't afraid to ask Him to give me peace the other evening and He granted my request immediately, but maybe there are other things that I am more timid or more prideful about asking? I don't know. I just know it is hard. I guess I need to do another study on pride, are you up to it? Maybe next time.
Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
The Bible says that He will supply ALL my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. According to His riches, that has to be a never ending supply and it is all for me, can I comprehend that? Not sure. I'm trying to. That could mean Spiritual, Physical, emotional, and mental. I probably could use it all, so why not ask?
John 14:14 "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it".
John 16:24 " Until now you have asked nothing in my name, ask and you will receive that your joy may be full."
I read a statement on asking in His name the other day but don't remember where I read it but it went something like this, "but to pray in Jesus name means more than just at the beginning of or ending your prayer in His name, it means praying in the mind of Jesus."
I took that to mean that what Jesus would want for us, we can be sure that it is OK to pray for that particular thing. I also would like to have that fullness of joy that is mentioned in John 16:24. I know He wants us to be joyful and He also wants us to be healthy but in order to receive those gifts, He wants us to follow Him in a close fellowship and to lean on Him instead of our earthly friends and family, so I guess according to this study, I need to bury my pride and not be afraid to ask for help from friends and family or from God which is the most important. I hope this made sense to you and was a help. It was a discovery to me, God is so good at helping me to see myself just the way I am. Someone may say, 'I wouldn't like that' but I do like it because it is making me a better person for Him, so grit your teeth and ask Him to show you what you need to see and then lean on Him for the help you need to overcome. Enlightening for me to say the least. Grandma Joan
I am learning something that I didn't plan on learning, and that is to lean on others for help when you need it. I hate to say this but I feel very embarrassed to ask for help even if I really need it and suffer by not asking. Is that something you are acquainted with? I may be an odd ball when it comes to that but it hurts me to ask for help. I didn't want to get like this and it has taken a lot of pain, to learn this hard lesson.
Others will help and willingly if we ask. It is just the asking that hurts. I would rather suffer than ask. Am I odd or what? Oooooh, it just dawned on me that my pride is getting in the way of asking for help. Really, it just dawned on me that it is pride, I knew that I had a proud spirit but I thought God had taken it away but here it is getting in my way again. Please God help me with this ugly truth.
I wasn't afraid to ask Him to give me peace the other evening and He granted my request immediately, but maybe there are other things that I am more timid or more prideful about asking? I don't know. I just know it is hard. I guess I need to do another study on pride, are you up to it? Maybe next time.
Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
The Bible says that He will supply ALL my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. According to His riches, that has to be a never ending supply and it is all for me, can I comprehend that? Not sure. I'm trying to. That could mean Spiritual, Physical, emotional, and mental. I probably could use it all, so why not ask?
John 14:14 "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it".
John 16:24 " Until now you have asked nothing in my name, ask and you will receive that your joy may be full."
I read a statement on asking in His name the other day but don't remember where I read it but it went something like this, "but to pray in Jesus name means more than just at the beginning of or ending your prayer in His name, it means praying in the mind of Jesus."
I took that to mean that what Jesus would want for us, we can be sure that it is OK to pray for that particular thing. I also would like to have that fullness of joy that is mentioned in John 16:24. I know He wants us to be joyful and He also wants us to be healthy but in order to receive those gifts, He wants us to follow Him in a close fellowship and to lean on Him instead of our earthly friends and family, so I guess according to this study, I need to bury my pride and not be afraid to ask for help from friends and family or from God which is the most important. I hope this made sense to you and was a help. It was a discovery to me, God is so good at helping me to see myself just the way I am. Someone may say, 'I wouldn't like that' but I do like it because it is making me a better person for Him, so grit your teeth and ask Him to show you what you need to see and then lean on Him for the help you need to overcome. Enlightening for me to say the least. Grandma Joan
Monday, September 2, 2013
Don't Worry!
I have been a worrier, how about you and my eldest son took up my worrying and that's probably why I have nearly a white head. I was always thinking the worst of the happenings and my son would lay awake at night waiting for his dad to come home. Burt loved auctions and almost every Thursday night you could find him at the auction barn. Well, Ken would lay awake until he came home and then go to sleep. I wasn't that bad but bad enough to think of all kinds of things happening if he didn't come home from work on time or whatever the lateness might be.
My youngest son and my grandson are living with me right now and he always gets home by 6:15 - 6:30 from work, and he didn't come and he didn't come and it was 8:15 and he wasn't here and I was in one of my worry moods and could see accidents, hospitals and all that stuff and I was sitting here thinking about all of that when all of a sudden I realized the sin of what I was doing and what it was doing to me and I said 'Please Lord, give me peace' and that quick a wave of peace came over me and the thought of 'he's working late' and I was just fine and my granddaughter called me and told me the same thing, 'he's probably working late'.
I didn't realize until then that God takes care of EVERYTHING even my peace and I can't tell you what that did for my faith. All of a sudden I realized how faithless I am and how much I need my Savior in everything I do, and even think. My blood pressure was starting to rise and I knew I was in trouble if I didn't 'quit it'.
Philippians 4:6,7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
May I translate this verse into my words. "Don't worry, just ask Me and I will answer and give you peace that you do not understand and it surpasses anything you would understand and I will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus."
I didn't understand it but I can tell you I did appreciate that peace that He sent immediately and I was still thanking Him when I went to bed.
I don't know if you are guilty of that kind of worry or not but if you are, you know what I am talking about, when my husband would be very late, when he would come home, I would be so happy to see him that I would burst out crying from relief.
God has been so good to me lately and I am sharing these little stories with you to strengthen your faith in Him who loves you more than any earthly person. I hope you don't mind.
I have noticed that when we call He will answer and when He does answer, we should be as quick to thank Him for His love and care towards us. He has been working on my heart each day to improve my Christian walk and I hope He is working on your heart also. The closer we come to Jesus the more faulty we will look in our own eyes because we are looking at His perfect life, but it is a sign that the Holy Spirit is working in our behalf to help us in our walk with Him each day.
Be blessed with the peace that Jesus gives us and stop worrying about anything, let Him take care of it. Grandma Joan
My youngest son and my grandson are living with me right now and he always gets home by 6:15 - 6:30 from work, and he didn't come and he didn't come and it was 8:15 and he wasn't here and I was in one of my worry moods and could see accidents, hospitals and all that stuff and I was sitting here thinking about all of that when all of a sudden I realized the sin of what I was doing and what it was doing to me and I said 'Please Lord, give me peace' and that quick a wave of peace came over me and the thought of 'he's working late' and I was just fine and my granddaughter called me and told me the same thing, 'he's probably working late'.
I didn't realize until then that God takes care of EVERYTHING even my peace and I can't tell you what that did for my faith. All of a sudden I realized how faithless I am and how much I need my Savior in everything I do, and even think. My blood pressure was starting to rise and I knew I was in trouble if I didn't 'quit it'.
Philippians 4:6,7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
May I translate this verse into my words. "Don't worry, just ask Me and I will answer and give you peace that you do not understand and it surpasses anything you would understand and I will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus."
I didn't understand it but I can tell you I did appreciate that peace that He sent immediately and I was still thanking Him when I went to bed.
I don't know if you are guilty of that kind of worry or not but if you are, you know what I am talking about, when my husband would be very late, when he would come home, I would be so happy to see him that I would burst out crying from relief.
God has been so good to me lately and I am sharing these little stories with you to strengthen your faith in Him who loves you more than any earthly person. I hope you don't mind.
I have noticed that when we call He will answer and when He does answer, we should be as quick to thank Him for His love and care towards us. He has been working on my heart each day to improve my Christian walk and I hope He is working on your heart also. The closer we come to Jesus the more faulty we will look in our own eyes because we are looking at His perfect life, but it is a sign that the Holy Spirit is working in our behalf to help us in our walk with Him each day.
Be blessed with the peace that Jesus gives us and stop worrying about anything, let Him take care of it. Grandma Joan
Sunday, September 1, 2013
The Heavy Burdens of Life
We all have carried heavy burdens at some time or another, and I know from experience that it can be too heavy at times, way too heavy.
Are you carrying a heavy burden that is almost to hard for you to bear? Or perhaps you have more than one burden that you are trying to carry. Are you trying to carry it alone? It is a tough thing to try and do and an impossible task. We all need help and sometimes our family will step in and help us and sometimes we are all alone trying to carry our burdens. If you are alone trying to bear your cares all by yourself and you feel that you could sure use some help, well, I have good news for you, there is help at your fingertips.
Psalms 121: 1-8 "I will life up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved: He who keeps you will not sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
I have a good idea when reading verses like these. Instead of reading 'your', read 'my', it makes it so much more personal. "He will not allow MY foot to be moved: He who keeps ME will not sleep. The Lord is MY keeper, The Lord is MY shade at MY right hand. The sun shall not strike ME by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve MY soul. The Lord shall preserve My going out and MY coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
See how much more personal this is, you can do this with lots of promises and if you TRUST in the Lord, He will keep His promises to you personally. He LOVES to lift our burdens for us, He LOVES to be our keeper.
So trust Him with your burdens today and the load will be lifted from your shoulders because He says, "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."
Psalms 55:22
Matthew 11:30 " My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Let Him take your load and carry it for you, I have done that and it doesn't weigh hardly anything when He carries it. He will even carry you when you need Him to. I hope your burden has been lifted and you have a blessed day. Grandma Joan
Are you carrying a heavy burden that is almost to hard for you to bear? Or perhaps you have more than one burden that you are trying to carry. Are you trying to carry it alone? It is a tough thing to try and do and an impossible task. We all need help and sometimes our family will step in and help us and sometimes we are all alone trying to carry our burdens. If you are alone trying to bear your cares all by yourself and you feel that you could sure use some help, well, I have good news for you, there is help at your fingertips.
Psalms 121: 1-8 "I will life up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved: He who keeps you will not sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
I have a good idea when reading verses like these. Instead of reading 'your', read 'my', it makes it so much more personal. "He will not allow MY foot to be moved: He who keeps ME will not sleep. The Lord is MY keeper, The Lord is MY shade at MY right hand. The sun shall not strike ME by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve MY soul. The Lord shall preserve My going out and MY coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
See how much more personal this is, you can do this with lots of promises and if you TRUST in the Lord, He will keep His promises to you personally. He LOVES to lift our burdens for us, He LOVES to be our keeper.
So trust Him with your burdens today and the load will be lifted from your shoulders because He says, "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."
Psalms 55:22
Matthew 11:30 " My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Let Him take your load and carry it for you, I have done that and it doesn't weigh hardly anything when He carries it. He will even carry you when you need Him to. I hope your burden has been lifted and you have a blessed day. Grandma Joan
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