Encouragement . . . for the Journey

Changes

Let's face it they're inevitable ~ regardless of age. Some changes we look forward to like the kid who can hardly wait to get his/her license, entrance into the college of his/her choice, finding that perfect soul mate, etc. Some changes we relish and some we would like to ignore, but face them we must. How we face them speaks volumes about our character and who we place our trust in.


This past week, my husband was laid off from his job of 32 years. As God has given us yet another change, we are choosing to give Him glory. No whining, no complaining, just complete trust in the One who is completely trustworthy!!!! Sounds simple doesn't it? It is when you know the One (Romans 10:9-13) who doesn't make mistakes in what He allows to come into your life. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." Psalm 145:17-18 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

I have a wonderful book that I use in my daily quiet time with the Lord called Promises for Women (Zondervan). It is full of Scripture promises that are organized topically like, security, stress, peace, loneliness, obedience, fear, etc. Issues that we deal with everyday. Each day I take a topic and simply pray the verses back to the Lord. He always has a special Word that renews, refreshes and restores me in my spiritual journey with Him. Today was no exception. As I turned to today's topic, you guessed it ~ it was entitled "change". The following verses are the ones that I prayed today. May they be an encouragement to you in whatever changes come your way today.


"I the LORD do not change," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:6


The Father of the heavenly lights . . . does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17


Be made new in the attitude of your minds.
Ephesians 4:23


Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever, wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:20-22


Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:18-19

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

See how I love your precepts;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.
All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.
—Psalm 119:159-160 NIV

"A voracious love for His Word is gloriously contagious." Just read this great quote this morning preparing for a Beth Moore Bible Study on Esther. Then I saw this prayer from Chuck Swindoll. Trust both will encourage you as much as it did me!!!!!

Thank You, Father, for breathing out Your Word through men so many centuries ago. Thank You for preserving the message that You revealed through the miracle of inspiration, Father. Thank You for Your Word—the inerrant, authoritative, infallible Word of God. We live in a day in which others' words have replaced your eternal Word, at least in the public's mind. In this difficult era, it is hard to hear again Your Word. We pray that the scales will be lifted from our eyes and that which has blocked our hearing will be removed so we might see and hear and be comforted and encouraged by Your revealed Word. May the truth that appears in Your Word make its journey through our minds and probe deep within our hearts, so that our minds are transformed and as a result, our actions.

Father, we pray that You will cause us to glean from Your Word truth to live by, knowing that it represents truth to die for. Ours is a troubled era. The battle for men's and women's souls and for our youth's minds is raging. And rather than simply throwing a fit and screaming at the top of our voices, we bring our requests to You. We ask that Your truth may equip us with sufficient ammunition to do battle in a world that's lost its way and is guided by an enemy who is deceptive and effective, who knows exactly where he's going. We pray that we will grasp the value of doctrine as it establishes us for whatever comes our way—those surprises, those unexpected events, those things we will call tragedies, and those joys and delights that are before us.

Anchor us, our Father, to the bedrock of truth and remind us that Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday and today and forever. It's all His story. Our Father, our eyes are upon Jesus. It is in His merciful, matchless name we pray. Amen.

Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Encouragment . . . for the Journey

Prevailing Peace in the midst of the Storm

All of us go through storms in life. There are times we feel the waves pounding as they wash over us, making us feel as if we will drown. Storms come in ALL sizes and intensities and to ALL people. We cannot escape them. James 1:2-4 encourages us with how we are to react when the storms blow our way. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters), whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Our family just found out that my Mom has pre-leukemia, treatable but not curable. Praise the Lord for His peace in the midst of this storm and His incredible power to face the days ahead. He knows the plans He has for my Mom and we can trust Him to accomplish them according to His timetable. Don't get me wrong, we're praying for her healing because, after all He is the great physician, but we're leaving the results in His capable hands.

What storm of adversity are you facing now? Financial disaster? Poor Health? Rejection? Insecurity? Loss of a job? Loss of a loved one? Worry or anxiety, etc?

I love the words I was reading in a commentary from Warren Wiersbe right after we found out about my Mom. "No storm is greater than our God." Amen!!!!! "If you trust Him, the storm will bring glory to God. If life is stormy just now, worship Him and wait on Him. The storm will pass, and He will give you peace."

Pastor Chuck Swindoll says, "What comes from the Lord because it is impossible for humans to manufacture? Wisdom. What comes from humans because it is impossible for the Lord to experience it? Worry. And what is it that brings wisdom and dispels worry? Worship.

Psalm 29:1-1, is a great prescription for any storm you might be facing right now. Enjoy it's beauty. I would encourage you to take the time to read it out loud. Let the words penetrate deep within you. Your storm, like mine, probably won't go away, but you'll find that your focus will be on the One who can bring you peace in the midst of it.


1."Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2.Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
3.The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4.The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5.The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6.He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7.The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
8.The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9.The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, "Glory!"
10.The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is King forever.
11.The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace."


Quotes taken from: With The Word by Warren W. Wiersbe, copyright 1991. Thomas Nelson, Inc. and The Living Insights Study Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1996 by the Zondervan Corporation