Knowing The Lord has its perks. In time of dispair He promises His kindness, peace, and mercy. Sometimes we just need a little understanding from a friend. What a friend we have in Jesus.
Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith The Lord that hath mercy on thee.
Mountains have been shaken and removed, but the promises of God never break by any event. When friends fail us, our God does not.
My sister Ruthie (RIP) and i used to sing the following song:
If you know The Lord, you need nobody else
To see you through the darkest night.
You can walk alone, you only need The Lord
To keep you on the road marked right.
Take time to pray every day
And when you're heading home He'll show you the way.
If you know The Lord, you need nobody else
To see the Light, God's wonderful light.
My doctor tells me our bodies are like used cars. They wear out, depreciate, stall, and then die. I believe him, but my hope is in the resurrection and I'm going to live forever.
The empty tomb is proof that Christ is risen, therefore guaranteeing our future resurrection at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:42, 43 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory; It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body . . .
At Christ's return, born again believers will stand unashamed in the presence of angels and God Himself because we shall "be like Him! Praise God! No more aches and pain. In our heavenly bodies the universe will be our playground. I'm ready.
I searched every room and closet in my house for my clipboard and the information it held. I even looked throught the old file cabinet in the garage. Only two weeks ago I held it in my hands. How can things disappear so easily. The next day I repeated the search.
Frustrated, I remembered the times God led me to lost items. "Lord, you know where it is. Please, show me."
Certain it was in my piano room, I approached the wicker case containing my music stash. I had thumbed through these song books four times already. My hand moved directly to the middle shelf, and I retrieved a blue notebook. When I opened it, a "Praise God!" blessing spilled all over me. The lost was found.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in The Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
I once was lost and God found me. He smothered me with unspeakable blessings.
Praise God!
2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
This new person may not look different immediately on the outside, but inside, God has made him a new person in Christ. The new person has a new love in his life, The Lord Jesus; and a new book, the Bible; and a new companion, the Holy Spirit of God.
He brought me out of the miry clay
He set my feet on the Rock to stay
He puts a in my soul today
A son of praise, hallelujah!
Henry J. Zelley
There's so much we don't know. Though we don't doubt the hand of God on our lives, we don't always feel it. But what we feel is not the test of what we know.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Scripture doesn't say that we know how God works, but that He does. Everything in every sphere is under the control of God. That's breath-taking. Every event of life for the child of God is either planned or permitted by God.
If we are to claim the comforting promise of Romans 8:28, we must allow God to fulfill the next verse in our lives. We are to be "conformed to the image of His Son". Only God can perform that in us, and we must let Him.
A new-born Christian is not reformed by individual efforts. Even if he or she could change themselves, they would mess it up because they would take the credit. The change believers so desparately need and want in their lives comes in the person of Christ residing within them.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith . . .
1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christ within gives us a desire for holiness, for God, and for heaven. It's not that we can't sin again -- we can. But we don't want to.
When I am weak, scared, and uncertain, that's when I feel the power of God's strength the most. Piercing dark clouds of fear, a ray of light forces its way, exposing my Lord ever so near with assurance.
2 Corinthians 12:9 . . . My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
God's unmerited grace is sovereign and sufficient to save, sustain, and strengthen us.
The apostle Paul wouldn't allow his weakness to take him out of the ministry.
2 Corthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Sometimes God has to bring us to utter weakness so we will know His strength.
