Take it Away!

So I’m reading this daily devotion book I received for mothers day from my church. One daily devotion jumped out to me. Long story Short the verse was, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)…the prayer at the end was…

“Lord Jesus your love excludes no one. Your grace invites even me to come, to find rest for my weariness. Right now, I’m carrying many burdens and, trusting your promise, I want to lay them down…”

This devotion made me a little lighter :) How good is God to take it all away!

Light in the Storm

2 Samuel 22:29 – You are my lamp O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

Imagine you’re a 5 year old child. It’s dark and stormy outside. The wind is blowing hard as the trees scrape up against your window. Oh man! Your flashlight batteries just ran out and BOOM! Thunder. Oh how you hate thunder it sounds like someone is pounding on the door trying to get in. All of a sudden your room lights up from a lightening strike and throws the bending tree shadows on the wall. BOOM! There’s that scary thunder again. You wish you that you knew the teddy bear you’re clutching would be real so it would protect you. No such luck. Howling wind again and another BOOM! Sobbing you tear out of the room running and hoping the things that go bump in the night are not on your heels but knowing for sure that they are. Afraid to look you keep running. Finally you reach the destination that you know would take care of the horrifying storm. You race through the door as mom and dad grabs you up and snuggles closely. They kiss away your tears and whisper softly, “everything is going to be ok, you’re safe now.”

Life as a 5 year old isn’t too far off the life that most adults live today. That one stormy night explains what so many goes through day after day. Lets face it live usually isn’t easy. We make life hard and it really does seem that people enjoy it that way but are miserable. We cling to things, people and objects that fill us from the outside as a storm rages in us. Just when you feel safe and secure the lights go out; your batteries go dead. While you’re searching for that next thing to fill your emptiness the outside world is clawing and scratching to get in. Ah finally...like the 5 year old you find the teddy bear. It doesn’t take long to know though that it won’t work either. No matter how much you think it will…it will never love or protect you like you do it and it will never be real. That storms still raging huh? You’re sobbing and fighting desperately. What can help me? where do I run to when all my outlets have proven to be nothing and fill nothing within me? You’re searching again but the emptiness is following you. Just when you feel hopeless and that your bumps in the night are catching up, you get to the door. Its been there through the entire storm and however long you kept fighting you knew that’s where you needed to be.

So as you reach the door and open it you find God waiting. Our Heavenly Father with arms open wide whispering to you, “everything is going to be ok, you’re safe now.”

Don’t wait for that storm…he’s here now and ready to protect you from your emptiness and those that are trying to desecrate you.

Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

1 Samuel 2:9

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou saved me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Find God…Search him out and submit. He will take you pain and give you heeling over all your aliments.

Refill

He makes our cup runith over; but do we ask for refilling when it starts to get low? Keep in mind that it does not run low due to God but our own choices. Some choices lead us away from the Lord. Things happen in life and its our choice whether it will have a negative or positive impact.

Now after hearing that, understand God is always with us no matter our choices. When we need to ask for refilling He is ready to give it. No matter how rough times are or how far one strays He will pick us up if we let Him.

Most problems in the world is that we (humans) depend on ourselves way too much. God wants to do things for us and take things away. But how can we allow God to do this when we’re not willing to let go. Two people can’t drive the car at the same time. Even a student driver car is not ideal with our relationship with God. You know the car where God would have just about complete control but if he gets to a place where we’re a little uncomfortable then we can hit the breaks. That’s just not how it should work. Plus we usually get to the same spot just on a different route; which is more lengthier than the route God was driving to.

There are cases in the Bible that give us examples of the same scenario. Did you know that Moses told God no? He didn’t want to speak to the crowds and basically told God I can’t do what you’re asking. So God said alright Aaron (Moses’s brother) you’re going to help Moses. Aaron spoke for Moses. Moses put the breaks on Gods will but it was still accomplished; via a different path. When Moses led them out to the dessert can you imagine how much quicker they would have got to their promise land if they would not have strayed (from God)? Now I understand that their straying was purposeful to Gods will and it shows us today that God is very patient. But why couldn’t they just give God the reigns and let Him lead them?

It’s the same reason we do not let Him to that today in our lives. We put the breaks on when God starts to send us in a direction that we do not want to go in. What will people think? What will I do if this happens? But what about what I’ve done in the past?

The past is gone and the future is not here…Now is where we need to live. We need to get in the car and give God the wheel.

And once this is realized we can allow Him to work in our lives so that He will touch others. Follow His lead the Lord will put you on the path that will lead to good things.

Oh yes the path will be filled with trial and tribulations and if you’re a Christian in Gods army then there will be many. As mentioned above when those things that bring us down or stand in our way threaten our walk with God, then we need to refill. Let Gods sprit wash over us and let His joy and peace and everlasting love shine through us to touch others. Let God’s positive influence help us back on our way so that we can finish what we’ve set out to do for His glory.

New Start…Fresh Start…Brand New Continued

New Start…Fresh Start…Brand NewContinued

Through God we have to opportunity to live our lives with hope, joy and peace. Who would not like to live a life like that? So many of us are going through things that bring us down when we need to be going to the opposite direction. Not only feeling up but looking up. Ask and you will receive. Verse…

Find:

Hope

- The Lord gives us Hope. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Life is full of obstacles, hope is the emotion that God has granted us to cope with time.

All throughout the Bible there is Hope. In Psalms 16:9 David writes, “ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh will also rest in hope.” Again in Psalms 37:7-8 again David speaks of Hope…”And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions…”

Peace

- Gods gives us peace and a sense of security. He protects us from not only everything around us but for ourselves too.

Leviticus 26:6
“‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid.

Numbers 6:26
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace

Joy

- He will restore our Joy.

Deuteronomy 16:15


For seven days celebrate the festival to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.

1 Kings 8:66


On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Psalm 5:11


But let all who take refuge in you be glad; 
let them ever sing for joy. 
Spread your protection over them, 
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

New Start…Fresh Start…Brand New

New Start…Fresh Start…Brand New

When reading the Bible we find that through Jesus Christ we will be made brand new. Brand new, that’s pretty exciting; everything in our past no longer matters, our slates are wiped clean. While the past will always be there, it is what it is…the past. Too many live in the past - the what I’ve done or haven’t done. We need to look to now and start living our lives the way God intended us to live. A life through him and with him. One day at a time

Coming to this series...

A new start where you:

can Find...

need to Give...

need to Have...

can Fight...

Praise

Praise.

How often do we as Christians praise God? I mean really praise and worship him on a daily basis not just at church on Sundays.

We always ask God to heal us and to bless us but do we thank him and give him the glory that he deserves for the things he has given us? Are we Joyful when we do it? Sometimes we cannot move forward without being content with where we are. That doesn’t mean that we cannot strive for the future but we need to be thankful for the things God has provided and even those he has not.

In Psalms 20:4

May he grant you according to your heart’s desire. And fulfill your purposes.

Then in verse 5 David states, “We will rejoice in your salvation, and set up our banners!”

We need to delight in what God achieves for us. We need to wave our banners and give him the praise and admiration he deserves. God is a boundless God who does magnificent works. We need to tell him what an awesome job he does in our lives. Even if our lives do not feel so splendid.

Your car may not be a top of the line Lexus but it gets you to your job and home. We need to thank him for the transportation that he has given us. The job that lets us afford the things that we have and the food that we eat. We need to thank him for that red light when we’re running late cause it saved us from the car accident that just happened down the road.

We need to Thank him for his word and the assurance he gives to us through it. Thank him for the past knowledge and the prophets that were sent before us to pave our way and to guide us home to God.

When we thank him and praise his name it needs to be done in an uplifting and joyful countenance.

Everyone likes to hear appreciation, God is no different.

Even Joseph who had been sold into slavery by his own brothers knew that God had allowed it so that he would preserve the future. He held fast to God as he went through trials and tribulations before he reached his promise. Using the vision and wisdom God had given him he rose to be Pharaoh’s equal. Joseph a Hebrew was the Egyptian Pharaohs equal. Could you imagine? Back then Egyptians and Hebrews did not even eat at the same tables. But he showed his faith in God and he was blessed. Then when he told his brothers who he was he told them not to worry or be angry with themselves for God lead him to where he was. Reading through his story in Genesis you will see that time and again he said this was gods doing not mans (his). God give him the power to interpret Pharaohs dreams and thus letting Joseph have the knowledge on how to preserve food during the 7 good years for the 7 years of draught.

“Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams are one; God has shown Pharaoh what he is to do.” Genesis 41:25

Then another reference in verse 28, “This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.”

Later in verse 32, “And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.”

Joseph was giving God the credit. Joseph was a tool for God so that they may know what to do in that 14 year period. And in return Pharaoh made Joseph the man in charge. God truly blessed Joseph.

How many of us can withstand trials a tribulations and know that God will bless us or better yet is blessing us. His blessings are showered upon us in his own time; not ours. But we need to give him the honor praise and glory during those periods so that he knows we have not given up and will continue to be a child of the Lord.

Wash Away

What can wash away my sins…nothing but the blood of Jesus.

All of these “sins” can creep but up and bite you after you’ve given them to God. But don’t be discourage because he will carry us through those tough times.

The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows who trusts in Him. Nahum 1:7

The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on high hills. Habakkuk 3:1

Ask

“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

John 16-:24

The 2 verses before states:

“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you.” (John 16:22, 23)

Joy, the meaning of it according to Wikipedia, “Joy may refer to Happiness, an emotion.”

He gives us the strength to endure or he takes it away. “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 6:24). That’s powerful stuff. There are so many in the world that is going through ruff times (myself included) and what we need to be doing is giving our problems to God. Who doesn’t want happiness and joy?

Prayer is a powerful tool against all our aliments. By having faith and asking to wipe our issues away he will restore us. I once was lost and now I’m found is not just a clever song. It has real meaning.

So why do we fight every step of the way? When I was 18 I had the I’m 18 and I’m an adult I’ll do what I want. Looking back that wasn’t the best attitude to have. And that’s the attitude some of us carry with God.

Stumble a : to fall into sin or waywardness b : to make an error : blunder (Merriam-Webster)

Everyone stumbles and falls. It happens all the time and its ok. We are supposed to strive to be great Christians and sometimes we will fall short. When that happens we need to pick ourselves up and dust off and keep marching on. It’s harder than I make it sound. Sometimes you feel down and helpless but there is hope and there is joy to be found and to have.

He has restored my faith my mind and my spirit.

All that I am is because of what he has given me. I will praise him for the things that I have and even the things I do not have. We are who we are because of the things that we go through. Life experiences help us to understand better others situations. We are creatures that base much of our lives on emotions. Some emotions are hard to understand and deal with. But know this…however hard it is God is there to help us through it or take it completely away. Why we go through things is not for us to know; who are we to question God? Again, know this…however hard it is God is there to help us through it or take it completely away.

There are a number of verses throughout the Bible that gives reference to this. There are many songs and poems written in reference to it as well. What about the personal stories from people about the miracles that God has worked in their lives. He defeats Satan time and again.

All we have to do is ask…Come breathe on me By Jennifer Knapp

Come trickle down and save the world 
two hands that I can't see 
come breathe, come breathe, 
come breathe on me 
split-rib water, blood and bone 
come now, come Calvary 
come breathe, come breathe on me

His answers come in Gods own time not ours. However frustrating that is we know as Christians that if we hold fast to the Lord and have faith his work will be done.

…This is what it means to be held


How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life


And you survive


This is what it is to be loved and to know


That the promise was that when everything fell


We'd be held…

- Held by Natalie Grant

Hold Fast cause we are Held...we can find Joy in Christ!

Obedience

Isaiah 1:18-20

“Come now and let us reason together,” Says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

These verses give us 2 very opposite promises.

One of hope and the other of destruction. Not only is God a great loving and gracious God, giving us many chances over and over; but he is a God that is ready to stand and fight for what is his.

Now that may be scary for some, but for me both promises are a refuge. Not only is God loving and forgiving but he is willing fight for me. Who better to fight for you other than the most powerful being ever? He is the “Lord of Hosts, the Mighty one of Israel” (Isaiah 1:24). We call on him to fight our fights, heal our oppressions and forgive our transgressions.

He is very real and ready to take care of all we need.

The poem Footprints in the Sand…let us know that he carries us through our trouble times (even though it may not feel like it). He is there with us always. He will not forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Verse 6 goes on to say, “So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; What can man do to me?’”

Again, we call on him to fight our fights, heal our oppressions and forgive our transgressions. And Satan will fight us the entire way. But we can hold tight to the promises that God will see us through it and never give us something that we cannot handle and when it gets to be too much…we can call on his name and the “Lord of Hosts, the Mighty one of Israel” (Isaiah 1:24) will be there to fight for us.

The God of healing will be there to restore us. Psalms 147:3 states, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds…Great is our Lord, and mighty in power…”

What about the extreme patience that God has. He forgives us when we overstep the realm of Christianity. “But you are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (Nehemiah 9:17).

This is Remarkable! He wants to do all of this for us. We, who are mere humans that are constantly sinning in some form. We’re not perfect and God is not asking us to be. He is asking that we be “willing and obedient” (Isaiah 1:18-20).

When it is too much for us…

But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” - Luke 18:27

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8

Whilst we fall he will pick us up.