Encouragement . . . for the Journey

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10c

No matter where I look these days, I see a LOT of people who look as if they need some joy in their lives. Joyless people are everywhere ~ everywhere. We can find them in our neighborhoods, at our local malls, Wal-Mart, the grocery store and yes, even in our churches. Those the winds and storms of life have beaten down. Their circumstances have left them battered, bruised, and broken. Swirling, like the leaves the spring winds twist and turn, their lives seem out of control ~ no hope ~ no peace ~ just turmoil. They’re enveloped in a life of seeming despair with no way out ~ trapped, frustrated and bewildered as to why this is all happening to them. Ever met anyone like that? Or you’re saying to yourself, that’s me!!!

So often we, even as believers in Christ, equate joy and happiness synonymously, but they can be two different things. Happiness oftentimes depends on our outward circumstances and joy that brings complete satisfaction comes from a deep, abiding relationship with Christ. As believers, we need to remind ourselves from time to time things just aren’t always going to be great; circumstances stink and storms come. James 1:2 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Did I just hear right? Yes. James tells us to consider it pure joy when we’re going through trials. I know you’re thinking, “Why???” I’m glad you asked. The next part of the verse gives an immediate answer.“Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Verse four goes on to say, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” "We are more than conquerors through Him (Jesus) in all things; not in spite of them (tribulation, suffering, and persecution), but in the midst of them." Oswald Chambers

Because most of the time our circumstances will not change, we have to make a choice whether we will wallow in despair or walk in victory in Christ, choosing His joy. In Isaiah 61:2b-3 God promises, “ . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.” Reread those verses and take them to heart. Make the choice to walk tall in Him, being a beautiful display of His grace, splendor, and majesty. Don’t allow your circumstances to dictate who you are or how you feel.

I have a friend who has a debilitating disease that will never go away. In fact, when she first got the disease, her husband left her and the prospects of a great career went out the window. During the ten years I’ve known her; I have NEVER heard a word of complaint, despair, or “woe is me” from her mouth ~ only praise. Now I’m not telling you that she’s some super saint, but I am telling you that she has made a choice to rise above her circumstances. She is a delightful lady that everyone loves to be around. Although confined to a wheel chair, she stands tall!!! She is a beautiful display of God’s amazing grace, strength and sustaining power. Are you???

“You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to You and not be silent,
O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.” Psalm 30:11-12

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Just read some wonderful thoughts from Lysa TerKeurst, www.madetocrave.org. She talked about how often, when God asks something of us that's hard or seemingly beyond our reach, we say to Him, "But I"~ focusing on our own inabilities rather than the sufficiency found in Christ alone. She challenged her readers with the following verses to help us when we have the tendency to look inward rather than upward. May the power of these verses challenge and encourage you today!!!

Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

Genesis 31:42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

1 Kings 5:4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.

Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.

Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

Jonah 2:6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Acts 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 3:15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

2 Timothy 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Knowing God from A - Z . . . a praise walk through the Psalms

One of my favorite books of the Bible is Psalms. I typically read a Psalm a day along with any other Scripture I'm studying at the time. Actually I pray it back to God each day. As I've done this through the years, it keeps me focused on the greatness of my God, no matter what my day looks like.

Sometimes my days are filled with beautiful sunshine. Sunshine that warms me like snuggling up under an afghan on the coldest winter day. Other days are bleak, much like our our back yard looks right now. Regardless of our season, Psalms has something to say that will keep us looking "upwards" not inward or outwards toward others to satisfy our needs. God's Word is always sufficient for our circumstances.

Each day has challenges of its own and every time I read a Psalm, God has a special word just for that particular situation. Something that will always minister to my need for that day.

This year rather than reading a Psalm a day, I'm camping out for a few days. The first day I read it through, then look at a commentary by Warren Wiersbe called With the Word ~ a simple explanation of the chapter. On the second day I'll read the Psalm again, this time looking up all the corresponding verses in the margin of my Bible. On the third day after reading the Psalm, I read the comments from the Life Application Bible. This is keeping me from blowing through the Psalms ~ check off, "done that" mentality. It is helping me to grow deeper in my relationship with Him through this more thorough study.

This morning, I finished reading Chapter 5, one of my favorite Psalms. In the first verse, I love how God hears my words and considers my sighing. I don't know about you, but I sigh a lot. Not because I don't trust in my all powerful God, but because I am comfortable with Him. He cares in such a way that He invites my sighs. He considers my sighing, always listens to my cry for help and comes at just the appropriate time. In the meantime, until I know His answer, I wait. Wait expectantly, much like a child waiting for Christmas morning, their birthday to arrive or school to be over, etc. Knowing that He will protect me and give me exactly what I need when He does answer.

Another thing I am in the habit of doing is jotting down descriptions of who God is and what He does. I use the Alphabet praise method, putting each description by the appropriate letter. For example, from the first 5 books of Psalms here are the descriptions I've found:
A- Anointed One (Ps. 2:2), answers me (Ps. 3:4)
B
C- consider my sighing (Ps. 5:1)
D- deliverance (Ps 3:8)
E
F- filled my heart with greater joy (Ps. 4:7)
G- give ear to my words (Ps. 5:1), great mercy (Ps. 5:7)
H- hear (Ps. 4:1; 5:3)
I
J
K- King (Ps. 2:5; 5:2)
L- light of Your face (Ps. 4:6), listen to my cry for help (Ps. 5:2), lead me (Ps. 5:8)
M- merciful (Ps. 4:1), make straight Your way before me (Ps. 5:8)
N- Name (Ps. 5:11)
O
P
Q
R- refuge (Ps. 2:12), righteous (Ps. 4:1), righteousness (Ps. 5:7)
S- shield (Ps. 3:2; 5:12), sustains me (Ps. 3:5), set apart the godly for Himself (Ps. 4:3), spread Your protection (Ps. 5:11), surround the righteous (Ps. 5:12)
T
U
V
W- watches over the way of the righteous (Ps 1:8), will hear (Ps. 4:3
X
Y- You alone make me dwell in safety (Ps. 4:8), You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil (Ps. 5:4), Your presence (Ps. 5:5), You hate all who do wrong (their actions ~ He offers everyone salvation) (Ps. 5:5), You destroy those who tell lies (all are held accountable for their actions) Ps. 5:6), Your favor (Ps 5:12)
Z

As you journey with the Lord this year, make it a habit to read a Psalm. Look for all the descriptions of who He is and what He does. Keep your own journal. Take those descriptions and begin your praise time with Him each day. You'll be amazed at what He reveals to you and how your walk with Him will deepen. I love spending time with Him in the morning. The Life Application Bible puts it this way, "The secret of a close relationship with God is to pray to Him earnestly each morning. In the morning our minds are more free from problems and then we can commit the whole day to God. Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. We need to communicate with Him daily."

On the journey with you and praying that God will reveal Himself to you in amazing ways in 2012 ~ Dianne