He Holds Our Hand

Today's post is from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

and He delights in his way.

When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,

because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”

Psalm 37:23-24

Several years ago, I was walking through the parking lot at work with a friend/colleague. As we were talking, we continued to walk up the pathway to our building. Somehow I stepped down halfway on the sidewalk and halfway on the grass and it launched me forward with such a force! All I can remember was being propelled forward while trying to keep myself from falling flat on my face! Eventually, my legs caught up with the top half of my body and I regained control. I was left feeling quite dazed and all I could do was laugh! You know that uncontrollable laugh were you laugh so hard you begin to cry and your sides hurt so badly?!!? I just love laughing like that and wish it happened more frequently! Anyway, my friend was confused as to what had just happened. She was thinking I did that on purpose! I laughed even harder imagining what I must have looked like!

This past incident came to my mind after I read today's key scripture. I got so excited because I could actually visualize the Lord Almighty right there grabbing my hand and catching me. 

Reading this scripture touched something deep inside me.  It was like I was reading it for the very first time even though  in the Bible, we read all throughout how God is always with us and he will never forsake us. We hear pastors preach it. We encourage our family and friends with this same truth and tell it again and again to our children. But we must remember to not become complacent to what the Word says. 

God is in control of all things. He is the One who establishes our steps and when we trust and surrender all to Him and live our lives according to His will, He delights in us! It's His plan and let’s not forget this and try to get out in front of Him. When we do that, we are not letting Him guide us down the right pathway. Instead, we are saying, “Hey, my way is better or I can’t wait for your direction.” Before we know it, we are so far out ahead of Him.

I can't recall how many times I have said to my boys, "Wait for mommy! Don't get too far ahead, stay where I can see you!" Every time my boys and I walk through a parking lot or cross a street I say, “Hands, hands” and immediately they know to grab a hold of my hand. This way I can lead them safely to the other side. Its the same with our loving Father. He is with us, leading us and when we fall He is there to catch us, to  hold our hand and to guide us. 

Let’s seek Him and trust Him and let Him lead the way!

Dear Heavenly Father,

So many times we try to do things our own way. Forgive us for thinking we can be in control and press it upon our hearts to ask You first in all things in what direction You would like us to take. We praise Your Holy Name just for who You are. As we trust in You, transform us into being more like You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

An Example To Follow

Today's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” 1 Peter 4:8-9

Serving others is self-less. It’s a sacrifice, putting our needs aside to fulfill someone else’s.

I often pray and ask God to open my eyes to recognize the needs of others. How can my family bless someone today? And God is always faithful and He has opened my eyes to see and filled my heart with compassion. He has provided opportunities for us to help others around us.

What always fascinates me is how He works, how He orchestrates opportunities and how He always provides the means! My family is able to help another particular family in a way that I have secretly wished that for me, uh..I mean us. Okay, it was more like complaining during one of those self pity moments. “Why doesn't anyone see our needs?” But the shocking truth here is that I WANT to help this family and I feel no resentment. One would think my flesh is screaming, “No, I can’t!” and make up every excuse to not be available. Oh, believe me, there are times when I would rather not take on any more responsibilities. After all, I am human!. ;-) But then I am quickly reminded I am able, through Christ who strengthens me! So, why not? 

I know what it is like to have this need and here we are fulfilling that need for another family! Only by His might because there is no other way! I am in complete awe at  how God can change our hearts and He always equips us with what He has called us to do - all for His glory and honor! Amen!

Photo Credit: Laura J Lee

And God just didn't create us, throw us into this world and command us to love and help others. He provided an example for us to follow. So, we have no excuses. All we need to do is to look to Jesus, study how He served others all throughout the New Testament. 

1 Peter 2:21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, …”

Jesus will show us the way, He is the shepherd and we are His flock. “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8

So let's make sure we get into His Word daily. Read it, study it, believe it and practice it and we will hear His voice. John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me"

Let's Pray
Open our eyes, Dear Lord, so that we may see those around us that are in need. Help us to be sensitive to others and recognize ways in which we can bless others, in Your Name. Use us as a vessel where Your glory flows through us. Lead us in this dark world where Your light shines so bright others don't even see us, they only see You.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

One person can make a difference

Today's post comes from Ursula at Coffee Time with God

 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:16

We live in a world today where people are hurting everywhere. Just look around you and you might see a neighbor who just got divorced with 3 small children and she doesn't know where to get the next meal from. A co-worker who got locked out of her fiance's apartment after he left her for another woman. A family member who is stuck in an abusive relationship and desperately needs help and support or a close friend just got diagnosed with cancer. What can YOU do the help, what can YOU do to make a difference? How can YOU let YOUR light shine?

Everybody knows someone who is hurting but only a few will reach out. Those who don't do anything might think that they are not able to make a difference but you CAN make a big difference. I believe and the Bible tells us in Romans 5:18 "...just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people" that one person CAN make a difference. Especially being a Christian we should show love to everybody, especially to those around us. Showing love should be part of your lifestyle. "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" ~John 15:12 

To Love is a willingness to Do something for another person. 

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” Quote by John Wesley 

I love that quote, it's straight to the point to do good all the time as much and as long as you can. As Christians it is our responsibility to do good to everyone, to be Christ like, to be transferred in His image. And besides doing good to all we are also responsible to preach the Gospel and share the Word of God.

Sure we have our own problems, carry our own crosses, but that doesn't mean you should stop helping others. Instead reach out to someone who doesn't know God yet, be a light to them and talk about Jesus and what He has done for you in your life. Ask if you can pray for them, invite them to a Bible study or a Sunday worship service. When you do this God will bless you.

"Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" ~ 1 Corinthians 9:19 ( Message) 

I recently moved back to the south of The Netherlands where I am originally from. There are not many Christians here. Most people are either Atheists, Catholic or worship other gods like Buddha. I was put to work in a government supported project with most people not knowing God and I would grumble and complain to the Lord about it but He said: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles" ~Isaiah 42:6

Now that I have been there for a few months I see how God has been using me there to listen to people who have been hurt and disappointed by loved ones. People who don't have hope anymore. In return I have shared testimony about what God has done for me in my life and that there is still hope. I have invited some people to come to church and the women's fellowship meetings. A couple of them have come to church already Praise God. I know this is the beginning of saving many more new souls.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" ~ Hebrews 10:24

So I would love for ALL of you to be encouragement. Look around you, see who needs prayer, see who needs a helping hand. Let's do it, full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. 

God bless always and stay Spiritually Well and Strong.

Much Love Ursula

Love heals your heart

Today's post comes from Salina at State of the Heart

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” NIV

In the words of Third Day; 'you may feel like your life is shattered with no way to be fixed again, but at a time you least expect it, love heals your heart.'

The longer I live here on earth, the more convinced I am of how much God truly loves me. If that were not so He wouldn't feel the need to constantly place so many new and unexpected gifts along my path. One of the biggest gifts He has given me is the ability to give and receive love.

For humans, love is much more than just a basic need; in fact, our need for love is so strong we’re willing to do almost anything to achieve and maintain it.

Everyone needs to know how much they’re loved; even the Bible says that love is one of three things that will not only endure, but is also the greatest of them. (1 Corinthians 13:13).

There have been many instances in my life when I had to rely on love to carry me through a hard time. Pain, hurt, and rejection are impossible to hide from and even harder to understand, but with love we are able to find an escape; a reprieve from those feelings.

When a painful event occurs that tries to disrupt our love, we might feel as though our hearts have been broken into so many pieces they might never be put back together. When this happens, we need to choose not to believe the lies our enemy puts in our minds; instead we need to turn to the truth found only in God’s unending and enduring Word and love.

God’s love is different from the everyday love we are exposed to. His kind of love never asks for anything in return. It’s compassionate, merciful, and unconditional. He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). We truly are blessed when God’s mercy covers us, even if we feel as though we don’t deserve it.

I recently found myself looking back and reflecting on all the instances in my life where I was deeply hurt. Some of the pain was caused by normal life occurrences, the rest were inflicted through human influence. All of the pain produced lasting scars and at the same time left me feeling as though I might never recover.

I know the future will hold more pain for me, but it gives me great courage to know I have God in my life to rely on, to help me through whatever may come. I also know I could never survive without my husband, family and best friends. They rescue me over and over again, and are currently helping me put all those broken pieces of my heart back into place. In short, they are the very glue that holds my heart together and I thank God for them daily.

For those of you who feel as though you can’t go on, believe me when I say there is a way through it. It may be hard to see for all of your pain, but if you trust in the Lord and wait on His timing, you will be delivered. There is no better safety net than knowing if you fall it will be straight into His loving arms. His arms are big enough to cover every hurt in your life, they are strong enough to hold you for as long as you need to be held, and they are loving enough to wipe away every tear you've ever cried.

Please pray with me:

Dear Lord;

Our hearts are so tender and easily broken, and sometimes we just don't know how to react in situations that hurt us. The easiest, safest way is to hide from all the pain and withdraw into our shell, but when we do that we have the tendency to miss out on so many lovely treasures.

I praise You for allowing me the time to work through all the hurts in my life, and for always being there by my side, even if at times I wasn't able to see it. Father, I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have You or the support system You provide for me daily. I pray that if there’s anyone out there reading this who feels trapped, alone, or is dealing with a broken heart Your words will give them hope and healing.

Pour Your love out on them and help them to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Use me to help them in any way You see fit.

In Your name I pray, Amen

I'd love to offer you the option of having someone to talk to without judgment or fear.  Please feel free to contact me through my blog link.  You are loved.

Love Heals Your Heart, Third Day, from the album Wherever You Are, 2005, lyrics by Brad Avery

You are beautiful

This week's post comes from Salina at State of the Heart

Luke 16:15 "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." (NIV)

We all like looking at pretty things; it’s hard to pass by a row of beautiful flowers without stopping to admire them, there’s nothing like seeing the look a groom gives his blushing bride, and sometimes that actor or actress on television or in a magazine draws our eyes for a second glance, but when it comes to true beauty where do we draw the line? Most of us probably struggle with self-worth, but whether the problem stems from worrying about our appearance, weight, or just overall negative thoughts we have about ourselves, it all combines to form an affliction that affects some women as badly as if they had a life threatening disease.

It’s true that the world has a preconceived notion of what it means to be beautiful, but as women when we believe we’re unable to live up to that notion, for some reason we feel like we're a failure. When we get to this point it's easy to allow someone else to tell us how we should look or how we’re supposed to feel. Before long, we start to believe the lies told about us, even if they come from our own subconscious. Listen to what Sharon Jaynes says in her book I’m Not Good Enough (& other lies women tell themselves) "The way you think about yourself will eventually become the way you see yourself, whether it’s true or false. If you tell yourself negative, distorted statements about yourself, you will act in negative, destructive ways."

I can guess what’s going through your mind right now. You’re sitting there thinking of sentences that start with "what if." What if I was prettier, funnier, slimmer, smarter, shorter, taller, or richer; this list could go on and on, but beloved God never intended for you to be perfect. In Luke 16:15 Jesus Himself said to us "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." (NIV). When we choose to believe that beauty is only seen on the outside, we need to realize that these thoughts are nothing but hideous, ugly, revolting, and despicable in the eyes of God. He loves you and He wants you to give yourself a break. You are beautiful, you are smart, and you are strong.

You can be anything you want to be, but please don’t look at yourself through the eyes of men. God says He knows your heart, and you can believe He knows your value too. Sweetheart, hold your head high and put your trust in His truth. Learn to believe you’re beautiful just the way you are.

Please pray with me:

Father;
There are so many women out there who believe they fail to live up to what the world sets as a standard for being beautiful. My heart simply aches for them and I wish I could let them know otherwise.  Lord, I pray that You use me to help them look to You, their Maker and Designer, to remove these negative thoughts. Help them discover their true beauty and begin to love themselves as You love them. Encircle them in Your arms and allow them feel the comfort that only comes from You. 
In Your holy and precious name, Amen

I’m Not Good Enough..and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves – Sharon Jaynes pg 58-59 Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon. 2009

I Give You Glory!

This week's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2

When I read this scripture, I can easily vision myself with other Christians running into the wind with the look of perseverance on our faces. We are running and stripping away at our clothes [sin]. Pieces fall to the ground and we keep on running our eyes fixed on something straight ahead.

We are running to the cross that is in the near distance. The cross is empty. Yet just beyond it we can see Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in the Lord’s throne room. All the while Christians that came before us are sitting up in the clouds cheering us on. “Go Dawn! Go! You can do it! Just keep your eyes on Jesus! He loves you and is waiting for you at the end of the race! Remember what He endured for you on the cross?! You can do it!”

I can remember being a little girl and hearing the story of Jesus’ resurrection. All I really remember is there was a tomb, Jesus was there and a huge boulder. How did He get out of the tomb with a big boulder in the way? I’m not even sure if I remember Him being nailed to the cross or maybe I chose not to remember because it all seemed so gruesome to me. It saddens me that as a little girl I never understood the story. Somehow I missed it.

Thank you God for opening my eyes and giving me the understanding of what You did for me, for all of us who believe! Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

There is so much love at the cross. God gave us [sinners] His only Son so we could have eternal life. “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

I have no words that are sufficient. Why don’t you join me for the next few moments with our hands raised to Heaven and worship Him!

Oh, how beautiful

Are you Lord

It’s Your words, it’s Your love

Oh, how glorious are you Lord

It’s Your power, it was Your cross

That saved me and rescued me

Just a moment there set me free

I give You glory glory!

With a crown of thorns You became a king forever!

Love Casts Out Fear

This week's post comes from Salina at State of the Heart

Psalm 29:11
"The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace." NKJV

Fear has the tendency to sweep in, curl around inside your body, and burrow deep into your mind. It takes over all normal thought processes and leaves you with a feeling so strong it can only be described as panic. This attack continues until you reach a point where you're sure your heart is going to explode, your legs might fall out from under you, and breathing no longer becomes quite so automatic.

King David was in the midst of these feelings when he wrote Psalm 55." My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me. Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me. I say, "I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place! Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness. I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale." (55:3-8).

There are times when I understand exactly how David felt. I too would like to run away from my fears; I'd like to run so fast and so far that eventually I would outrun everything that troubles me. I've reached a point in my life though where I know fear can take such a hold of the body that if left unchecked it will carve away at your soul as though it was a cancerous growth. The more you try to run from it, the stronger that hold becomes, until eventually it will eat through every living cell in your body.

I can’t explain why fear leaves us feeling so powerless, but I guess it's one of the negative consequences of allowing fear into our lives; we start out believing we have the ability to control what happens to us, but in actuality we don't. There is only one way to control our fears. When David continued writing his Psalms, I believe that by chapter fifty six, verse eleven he discovered the way to alleviate this pain and fear. He wrote, "In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11)

I keep replaying that verse in my head and every time I come to the part that says "what can man do to me" I picture whatever problem I’m facing at the time and read it as "I will not be afraid. What can ____________do to me?" From personal experience I know how paralyzingly fear can be, but God has the cure to remove it. I don't have to fear anyone or anything, there is nothing too big for God to handle, there is nothing He doesn't understand, and He will continue to grant me all the strength and peace I need to get through each and every problem I face. I’m so thankful to have "the peace of God that surpasses all understanding to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

Please pray with me:
Dear Lord;
We all experience fear at different times in our lives, but You tell us do not fear for You will bless us with peace, the kind of peace that surpasses our understanding. We may not know what the future holds, but we do know that whatever may come You will be there to give us the strength to get through it, and the ability to face it without fear.
Amen