Hope in God and You will not be disappointed

When the house erupts with noise…

The scream of young ones squabbling yet again.

“You hurt me”

“Stop”

“Don’t touch that”

“That’s mine”

“I want that stool.”

And on it goes….

My heart sinks. When will they ever learn the lessons of gentleness and self-control? Have I been able to teach them anything at all?

I become downcast, brooding, feeling like a failure of a parent. I long for the day when they will be perfectly well-behaved.

But why? Why am I so discouraged? Is it that I expect perfect kids? Do I really think a strong-willed 4 year old and particular 5 year old could live a day in the same house without some kind of altercation?

The Lord gently whispers to my heart, “Your hope is misdirected.”

Proverbs says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Proverbs 13:12 When my hope is disappointed I have a terrible day. But how can I change the focus of my hope?

If I hope for good behavior my hope is focused on the actions of my children. But if I hope, confidently and expectantly that God will answer my prayers for them and create in them soft hearts towards Him as they grow into adulthood, my hope has found something sure to stand on. I have a Bible promise to grab onto, because He says in His Word to train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

What situation leaves you feeling discouraged?

Is your hope misplaced?

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Trust Me

We pray for those we love and commit ourselves to their well being and spiritual growth. But sometimes situations, conditions and events do not seem to retract its torturous grip in their suffering souls.

It is so hard to see this suffering so we are driven into our prayers zones for relief; not only for these loved ones but also for ourselves to gain understanding and patience.

We feel Father God’s presence and we can feel His power as we review all He has done for us (and others) in the past. But, regardless of these many blessings we still ask; Why! How long this suffering?

Recently I experienced this kind of waffling in my own mind and it is not a good feeling. I know the Lord understand, but I did ask Him “How long the wait?”

What I did learn was His depth of understanding of our positions and conditions in life; obviously because He lived as one of us here on earth. So nothing is a surprise to Him (Thank you Lord for your love!) Oh, and never try to hide your feelings because He already knows what you feel.

As I was driving along, in this sad condition of disappointment that things had not changed after much prayer and declaration of His promise, I was quieted by His presence with me as if He was going to say something I needed to hear. And in that quietness and peace I heard Him say so softly into my spirit, “TRUST ME.” That made all the difference, as He lifted my melancholy state of mind. My spirit leaped into emotional healing and hope.

As soon as I could I retreated to my study closet to read the Word and feel His presence. And these are some verses I found. It would help if you could memorize these verses as words against Satan’s attack.

Malachi 3:10 the Father says “Test me and prove me. He wants our fears and doubts so He can shower us with His love.

1 Peter 2:6 NIV and Isaiah 26:16 “the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame”

1 Peter 1:7 NIV trials come so that you faith …may be proved genuine.

Job 13:15 KJV

As I was wrestling with my study books tonight an envelope popped out and hit my arm. I remembered it was sent to me last year by my best friend as an encouragement to me. I slid the card our and it read in big bold letters Psalm 40:14 HOW BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO HAS MADE THE LORD HIS TRUST! I love the way He talks to us – keep seeking Him, you will never be disappointed!

Dear Reader be blessed in Him

Love you

Bro Walt © 2016

Receiving from God

Lately the Lord has been showing me how much I rely on myself and my own abilities, or time management skills to get through each day. These are things that He has given me as personality strengths yet I notice that I tend to be doing it in my own strength rather than letting Him fill me with His strength. 

Perhaps you struggle with receiving from the Lord as well. 

Here I am Lord. I receive Your strength, wisdom and grace for this day. I move forward boldly with confidence knowing that You have prepared works for me to do. I open my hands and my heart to receive Your provision of finances, grace, strength, wisdom, time and patience. I receive all You have to offer me. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear all that You are pouring down into my life! Thank You for Your good and perfect gifts. Amen.

Hope of problem free eternity

I was blessed by Walt’s message about God having a message for us every day . In the past few days I have been more mindful of turning to the Lord in the silence of my heart and asking Him what message He has for me

Today I picked up my Jesus Calling devotional and it happened to be on January 26 – the words exploded off the page

Link your hope not to problem solving in the life but to the promise of an eternity of problem free life in heaven

I am a fixer – always trying to do things better and find a better solution

I spend my days thinking about how to encounter less problems – I hope for less discipline issues in child rearing, a less noisy house, and for a time when we don’t live pay check to pay check

My heart is in search of ease – an easier life and yet I am not promised that.

Its my hope for heaven – what assurance to know there will be no more problems. I can stop trying to live problem free now and rejoice that I have a problem free eternity.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will^[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

Are there any messages for me?

We naturally look forward to receiving notes, letters, texts, voice mail etc. – messages from those we love.

We scan through our mail, playback messages on the cyber toys all to hear what we long for; “You have a message!”

What would happen if we approach our spiritual lives with the same passion?

Think of approaching Father God with the same interest and dynamic and expect to hear from Him. We should actually ask Him “What message do you have for me today?

His messages will profoundly change our lives, ministry and health.

To Delight in Him

  
This week’s Sunday School lesson was on Psalm 1. As we were reading through it in class I was struck by verse 2 “whose DELIGHT is in the law of the Lord.” 

How often do I teach that as Christians we should read the Bible and spend time in God’s Presence? And how often I try to do better in this area myself. Yet this verse doesn’t say to read more or to try harder to memorize or to become more disciplined at sitting in God’s presence. 

What I see here is that DElIGHT is the heart attitude of desiring HIM – desiring to read His Word and enjoying it. 

The image that came to mind was delight in eating chocolate chip cookies, delight of a child playing on the playground….

God doesn’t want it to be a ritual but a delight. 

Never Alone

LOVE LETTERS TO AND FROM GOD

NEVER ALONE

BY ROSEMARY KEENER

 

 

This morning as I was worshiping the Lord, a song came on called “Never Alone” ( by Matt Redman).

As I listened and sang along with it, the Lord so ministered to my heart. I’ve listened to it many times before, but this time was different. As I sat there with my eyes closed worshiping, I saw in a vision Jesus, He was so tall like over 20 feet tall and there was a person, by His side and they were walking together. As I watched, Jesus started to fade, and in my heart I was saying don’t go. And I heard Him say to my heart, “You may not always see Me, or feel My presence, but I Am always with you.” And then the vision vanished. As I sat there, and thought on what I had seen and heard, I thought on the very Word of God, where it is written, “ I Will Never leave you or forsake you!” Beloved one, God hasn’t left you or forsaken you! He is for you, He so loves you.  For many years I ran here and there wanting to be in the presence of the Lord. And there He was all the time waiting for me in our secret place. I don’t have to wonder if Jesus is with me, I know He is,( I don’t say that in any way prideful), how do I know? He walks with me, and He talks with me and He will do the same for you, if you just  take time to get to know Him. Read the Bible, worship Him, wait in His presence and if you haven’t heard Him before, you will. Jesus so longs to be involved in our lives, He wants to answer our prayers, but too many times we get so busy in life, we don’t take the time to ask. For so many years I lived a busy life and I too took God’s Word like fast food, I just wanted to read it because I knew I needed to. But my life was a mess. Where were the promises that I had? Why weren’t they being fulfilled? I was waiting on the “works of God”, rather than on the God of the works. But, all Glory to God, He is so long-suffering toward us(me). One day He spoke to me and told me to stop doing, all I was doing and come and sit at His feet. Oh, I am so very grateful that I, in His Great Grace answered that call. It sure wasn’t easy, I had always been a really busy person, but as the Holy Spirit continued to help me, I learned (and still am) to sit, to stay, to enjoy my Lord and the time I spend with Him. And you know what? It gets sweeter and sweeter everyday. I love the Lord, I know His love and wouldn’t trade places with anyone. He has and continues to be so good to me. So today Beloved one, if you are struggling, could I maybe help you a little bit? Take a little time for Jesus, tell Him all about your troubles, get to know this awesome God, and Lord and Savior, who loves you so much, that He wants to tali to you personally. I can promise you, you will never be the same! And you too will find Jesus walking beside you all the days of your life, and yes even into heaven with you on that day.  Can I also say to you get into a good church ( if you are not already) where the Father, Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are welcomed, honored, and taught on. We need each other, so that together we can continue to grow, and learn more about our loving Lord. Amen.

Praise & Thanksgiving: Quote from Jesus Calling

  

Praise and Thanksgiving

LOVE LETTERS TO AND FROM GOD

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

BY ROSEMARY KEENER

 

 

A while back, as I was cleaning my room, I realized I was on a hunt. If you’ve never been on one, let me tell you Beloved they are fun. You “think” you are doing one thing and then you realize God wants to show you something. So all of a sudden I “happened upon” one of my older journals. As I picked it up and started reading I realized that this was why I was doing, what I was doing. Many years back when I was a young Christian I was in bed thanking and praising God, for all that He had done ,and all He was doing,and as I did, I said,” Lord no matter what happens I’m going to praise you!” Did I mean it? Absolutely! Did I do it? No, I couldn’t. Why? Because see Beloved, we aren’t or ever will be strong enough in our own strength. We need the Lord to do in, and through us, what we cannot do! Does God desire us to praise Him in all things? Yes, He does. But too many times,we think it’s something “I” can do without Him. It is written in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. See, Beloved one Christ is the one who strengthens us. It is in Him alone that we live, and move, and have our being! See, my desires were right , I just didn’t realize at the time, that it is Christ in me, by the Holy Spirit, that does the praising, and worshiping through me. I believe with everything that is within me, that as we learn to spend time with the Lord, we learn through His Word, and through anointed teachers, and preachers how to do things God’s way, which is the best way!

When Paul and Silas were in prison, after having been beaten, I believe it was a supernatural praise and worship that they offered up to God. And the results? An earthquake, everyone’s chain’s fell off! Wow! Heartfelt praise and worship will do that. They weren’t looking at their circumstances, but to the God who was above their circumstances. Did God meet me right where I was? Absolutely! And so will He also meet you right where you are. He is such a good God and loves us so much! So many people have been so lied to about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But He is soooooooooooooooooo Good! I pray as you read this it ministers life to you. Praise and worship is a good place to start! You can start, by just thanking Him,and praising Him, that you are alive, and let it just go on from there. And I can promise you, according to His Word, if you draw near to Him, He Will draw near to you. Amen? AMEN!