John 10:10
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life
and that they may have it more abundantly."
How often have you been having a wonderful day, all is as it should be, and then like a thief in the night, something happens and your joy is immediately replaced with despair and frustration? "The thief does not come except to steal, and to destroy."
As followers of Christ we have a chose whether to stoop to the lies of Satan, walking in defeat, or stand on the word of God, knowing what He tells us is truth. Just as He spoke to the multitudes so long ago, He speaks to us today, warning of the thief who comes to steal our joy, destroy our peace, and ploy to steal our faith and trust in our Savior. Nothing gives Satan more satisfaction then we he succeeds in taking our eyes off Jesus and instead fretting over our problem. My mom tells me at times like this he is sitting in the corner clapping, knowing he has won.
How do we stand on the Word of God when everything around us seems to be moving toward defeat? How do we trust in what we do not see? We stand in faith. We believe the Word of God over the evidence before us.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. __Hebrews 11:1
Faith is a chose. It cannot be forced, nor can it be replaced. Faith and fear cannot exist as one. We either choose to walk in faith, or allow fear to steal our peace. Who will we believe, our Savior or our enemy?
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have
set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore
choose life that both you and your descendants my live; that you may
love the LORD your God, that you may cling to Him, for He is your
life and the length of your days. __Deuteronomy 30:19
Let's choose this day to stand on the word of God, allowing Satan to stoop in the corner, not clapping this time, but with his head hung low in defeat.
"I have come that they may have life and that they may have it
more abundantly." __John 10:10
Friday, September 4, 2015
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Beauty for Ashes
Isaiah 61:3
To give them beauty for ashes
Attending the wedding of my nephew, tears of joy could not be contained as I witnessed first hand the love and faithfulness of God. I expected to look into the star lit sky and see written for all to read, "I turn ashes into beauty." It was obvious this is exactly what God had done in my nephew's life. As he stood before the guests, he proclaimed, "I thank God every night for how He has blessed me." Yes, God had taken what once looked like a life of sadness and despair and replaced it with blessings beyond his greatest expectations.
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
__Isaiah 61:3
More and more the Lord is teaching me to wait on Him, and in the waiting trust Him. If only we could see behind the scene of how God is working in our lives. He has a plan for our lives and He alone knows what must take place to bring that plan to pass. What feels like heartache could be the very tool He uses to take us to the next place in our life.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
Who can be against us? __Romans 8:31
Wait on the LORD; be of courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! __Psalm 27:14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
__Jeremiah 29:11
I want to wait on the Lord. I want to know that I can trust Him to work all things out, and in the working, turn the ashes of my life into beauty. I know He will. I saw it written across the sky!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
__Romans 8:28
To give them beauty for ashes
Attending the wedding of my nephew, tears of joy could not be contained as I witnessed first hand the love and faithfulness of God. I expected to look into the star lit sky and see written for all to read, "I turn ashes into beauty." It was obvious this is exactly what God had done in my nephew's life. As he stood before the guests, he proclaimed, "I thank God every night for how He has blessed me." Yes, God had taken what once looked like a life of sadness and despair and replaced it with blessings beyond his greatest expectations.
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
__Isaiah 61:3
More and more the Lord is teaching me to wait on Him, and in the waiting trust Him. If only we could see behind the scene of how God is working in our lives. He has a plan for our lives and He alone knows what must take place to bring that plan to pass. What feels like heartache could be the very tool He uses to take us to the next place in our life.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
Who can be against us? __Romans 8:31
Wait on the LORD; be of courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! __Psalm 27:14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
__Jeremiah 29:11
I want to wait on the Lord. I want to know that I can trust Him to work all things out, and in the working, turn the ashes of my life into beauty. I know He will. I saw it written across the sky!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
__Romans 8:28
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