HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

Friends, at the stroke of mid-night tonight, December 31, 2017, the world will usher in a New Year, 2018!

It is traditional that folks think of making significant life changes in a New Year. This change in our calendars, however, does not affect the absolutes which govern the daily lives of  GOD's children... which are, the GOD we serve, our Heavenly Father, never changes and neither does His WORD.

“JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

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

Whatever happens in 2018, GOD’s people have this firm and fixed foundation on which we continue to build. So we keep on living as those who are the chosen and beloved of GOD (1 Thessalonians 1:4.) 

We simply do GOD’s will…

“…grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.” 2 Peter 3:18

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

…and remain ever mindful that:

 “All of GOD’s promises have been fulfilled in CHRIST with a resounding "Yes!" And through CHRIST, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to GOD for His glory.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

“If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for he cannot deny who He is.” 2 Timothy 2:13

Let us praise GOD for being AWESOME today with the confidence that He will be AWESOME again tomorrow!!

May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Almighty GOD and Father, we thank you for YOUR goodness and mercy that followed us throughout the year 2017. We thank you for forgiving us of our sins, healing all our diseases, filling our lives with good things, renewing our strength and crowning us with YOUR loving kindness and we are confident that YOU will do it all again and more in the New Year. Thank YOU for JESUS, the living WORD and the Holy Spirit. We thank YOU, Father, for choosing us, not for our goodness sake, but YOURS. We are so grateful for all that YOU do. We pray and ask all in JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Healing is on the Other Side: We Get There by Faith! – Part 2

In the Gospel of Luke story we have been following, JESUS’ disciples have taken a boat ride at His invitation, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”  Luke 8:22

As they sail across the lake, a sudden fierce storm hits the lake and the boat fills with water. The disciples become terrified and shake awake a sleeping JESUS to tell Him that they are in danger of drowning. JESUS commands the storm to cease and immediately there’s calm, but He is disappointed in His disciples’ unbelief, “Where is your faith?”

These men were with JESUS when He healed one man and brought a dead man back to life, just by a word of command (Luke 7:1-15.) Still they show fear in His presence and amazement at His power. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Luke 8:25

However, we should not judge harshly the reaction of JESUS’ followers since we too often doubt and question JESUS when we are faced with difficulties. We forget what He has done for us in the past and resort to disbelief – and we have the benefit of the full knowledge of His finished work on the cross, which the disciples didn’t have at this time.

The story does not record JESUS giving any details except that they were going to other side of the lake. But the disciples should have known enough about their Master by this time to know that this was not just a joy-ride. JESUS would have some business to take care of on the other side of the lake; something for which it was worthwhile to go through a storm to accomplish.

We are about to learn, along with the disciples, that more than the raging storms obey JESUS!

The crew comes ashore at the region of the Gadarenes:  As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. Luke 8:26-33

This account is absolute proof of the LORD JESUS’ power over the demonic world.

Too often we blame problems, misfortunes, and our carnal appetites on demons and spirits. While these do exist as we just read, they ought not to have possession of the lives and minds of GOD’s people.

Once we accept JESUS as LORD and Savior we are new creations in whom GOD’s Spirit lives. We must now actively partner with the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds and actions to live as children of light. We cannot remain in the darkness from which we have been rescued, once we are truly saved.

…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-24

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! Ephesians 5:8.

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

 Matthew Henry’s Commentary of Luke 8:22-40 states in part, “Those under Christ's government are sweetly led with the bands of love; those under the devil's government are furiously driven. Oh what a comfort it is to the believer that all the powers of darkness are under the control of the Lord Jesus! It is a miracle of mercy, if those whom Satan possesses, are not brought to destruction and eternal ruin!”

Believers, having received GOD’s miracle of mercy, are in a continuing process of spiritual healing by obeying GOD’s WORD daily and throwing off our old sinful nature and our former way of life, letting the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes and choosing to live as people of light.

Such a miracle of mercy brings about a radical change in us and causes the people in our sphere of influence to sit up and take notice, just as it happened with the demon-possessed man in our story:

When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane,…Luke 8:34-35

After years of torment by a legion of evil spirits and demons, this individual is finally free and sane. Now he has but one desire, to be with his rescuer and protector, JESUS, wherever He went.

But JESUS has something more in mind for this new disciple.

The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:38-39

JESUS would not take him along with Him, but sent him home, to testify to his family and friends and anyone who would listen, what great things GOD has done for him. This man, who for most of his life was feared, is now going to be a blessing to those same folks for whom he was a burden.

JESUS heals our dark, sin-sick souls and clothes us in His light and righteousness for the same reason – to serve in His Kingdom as light to the darkened world.

We do not get transported to heaven to be with JESUS immediately we get saved.

We are left here to tell people that JESUS crossed over to our side and rescued us from the demonic darkness of our past; and that they too could, by faith in Him, become “….a chosen people….royal priests, a holy nation, GOD's very own possession…, whom He has called out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

The fact that some storm clouds have settled temporarily over our heads and the waters around out boats are a little choppy, do not give us permission to become anxious and abandon ship. JESUS has not abdicated His place. He is right alongside us and when the time is right He will calm the turbulence about us but we will not be destroyed.

JESUS has given an open invitation to anyone who desires to cross to the other side of the lake with Him.

We must take the journey with Him, by faith, to receive His promised healing; His miracle of mercy

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD and Father, we thank you for the LIVING WORD that shows us the way, the truth, and the life. Thank YOU for reminding us that we have a great treasure residing within our earthly vessels, YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, to sanctify us and renew our minds daily. Thank YOU, Father, for helping us to have unshakable faith in CHRIST JESUS our LORD and Savior before whom the gates of hell could not prevail and demons tremble in terror. Thank YOU for choosing us for YOUR Kingdom here on earth and in heaven. By faith we believe and receive JESUS CHRIST, in whose NAME we pray. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Healing is on the Other Side: We Get There by Faith! – Part 1

In less than one week we enter the New Year.

Some of us made great strides in 2017, are excited about where we are now and anticipate the same or better in 2018. Others have struggled all year and are a lot less certain.

Those of us who never found a firm footing this year are torn between wanting the year to be over with and also anxiety and uncertainty about what the future will hold for them. Will 2018 be better, the same, or worse?

The children of GOD who have these doubts and apprehensions have but one option to the path of peaceful resolution – we hold tight to our faith. Know that the WORD and promises of GOD are still true. JESUS, whose birth we are still celebrating, is yet still our Emmanuel – GOD who came to be with us and save us, if we BELIEVE!

Always, our redemption and hope is in GOD’s WORD and never in what we feel!

The following illustration from the Gospel of Luke ought to encourage us and lift our spirits.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Luke 8:22-25

In this story JESUS gives an order to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”  And He gets in the boat with them.

If we are followers of CHRIST, what we do with our lives, we do for CHRIST….whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD JESUS. Colossians 3:17. Rest assured that JESUS is with us every step of the way as He was in the boat with His disciples.

JESUS was so confident in the journey's end that He settled down for a nap. But then came the storm, and the disciples did what we do when things are not going well – they panicked!

In the midst of a life struggle we can feel like we are in a storm – tossed aimlessly about, our boats are filling up with water, we have lost all control of our situation and we are certain that we are about to go under. Fear takes over and our faith is challenged.

We ask ourselves and others, where is GOD? Why has these troubles overtaken me? We feel singled out and abandoned. We lose focus and make judgments about our situation that could never be true for the children of GOD, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

We forget the promises of GOD, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6

We forget that we are the beloved of GOD: “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32  

When our situation is the most dismal it could be and if we do not immediately get relief, it seems to us that JESUS is asleep and uncaring.

The way we silence our fears then is to bring them to CHRIST and lay them before Him. With sincere faith and fervency, and not in an accusatory panic, we call upon JESUS as our Master. Be sure that JESUS will honor our trust and we will not perish, no matter how long we wait.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

The disciples’ fear was unwarranted and CHRIST rebukes them for it: “Where is your faith?” They in turn are terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Before the day is over JESUS demonstrates even more of His amazing power and we find out the real reason the boat had to reach the other side – and it had nothing to do with the disciples’ being saved from drowning.

As we come through the other side of our storm one day, we too will ask, “Who is this man?” 

JESUS will calm the storms of our lives because His proclamation over us could never be frustrated. We need have no fear or trepidation, no matter how stormy the seas of our lives become, how dark the skies and how loud the winds may howl. We will reach the “other side” if JESUS says that’s where we are going.

JESUS had a special purpose for getting to the other side of the lake and it was not for the personal benefit of the disciples. Likewise, our life journey is not necessarily for our personal happiness, it is about expanding the Kingdom of GOD. We all have a tiny but significant part as followers of CHRIST and our one duty in life is to obey GOD, for which we will one day receive a just rewarded – eternity with Him.

For now, if we simply believe JESUS, we will have peace about the future and healing from our past.

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD and Father, forgive us when we show little faith. Thank you for showing us that our fears are unwarranted because YOU are always with us, will never fail us, and have known the path we will take before we were even born. Help us, Father, to believe YOUR WORD, and to remember that we live for YOUR glory and when we are steadfast and endure we show the world YOUR power, YOUR goodness and YOUR love. Father, YOU treasure YOUR WORD above all else and it would never fail. It is YOUR WORD that became flesh and now live among YOUR people. Thank YOU for JESUS CHRIST and His promise to be with us even until the end of the age. In HIS NAME we pray. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Merry Christmas; Thank GOD for His Inexpressible Gift!

As we gather with family and friends, exchange presents and share food this Christmas Day, let us not forget the real reason we celebrate – GOD’s inexpressible gift to us, that gift too wonderful for words! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

JESUS was born to die; to atone for sin and become our salvation.

“The gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.” Romans 6:23

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1: 21

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:24

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD and Father, we have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people - YOUR gift of love. We accept YOUR grace, we believe YOUR WORD, and with gratitude we rejoice with the heavenly hosts, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

In JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Tidings of Comfort and Joy!

I have addressed this in the last few weeks but the theme keeps recurring from various sources around me. From relatives, acquaintances, the news media, and in a recent sermon, the same refrain – people are having a hard time getting through this time of the year!

The Pastor describes it as a “thin” time by which people feel near breaking point, more vulnerable to dark thoughts and feelings; where insecurities are magnified and things that were lurking in the shadows become huge and trigger negative behaviors.

Hopelessness and gloom seem to be more prominent than any other year this Christmas Season!

One morning recently, I was myself feeling something less than joyful when GOD brought to my attention a Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional based on Habakkuk 3:6. Spurgeon's insight on this short phrase gave me so much comfort and encouragement that I want to share it in its entirety. The writing is King James style Old English but the message is very clear – human behavior alters in response to feelings but GOD’s character is fixed so He cannot change. We must trust GOD but put no faith in ourselves.

"His ways are everlasting." Habakkuk 3:6

What he hath done at one time, he will do yet again. Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth: among them are the following--the Lord's ways are the result of wise deliberation; he ordereth all things according to the counsel of his own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration; but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than he has foreseen. His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal One himself can undergo change, his ways, which are himself in action, must remain forever the same. Is he eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender?--then his ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, his ways will abide everlastingly the same. Moreover there is no reason from without which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers, mountains tremble, the deep lifts up its hands, and sun and moon stand still, when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of his people. Who can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? But it is not might alone which gives stability; God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves ruin, but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish. This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him the Lord is ever gracious to his people.

The abundance of negativity floating around at this time of year can be pervasive, affecting even the most upbeat personality.

That Christians are also affected by this malaise is nothing but an assault by our enemy. Satan would like us to forget that HOPE has come to earth in the person of JESUS CHRIST! That this is not a season of hopelessness but the reverse!

The devil wants us so engulfed in misery and darkness as to forget that the TRUE LIGHT that gives light to everyone has entered the world (John 1:9) to overcome the darkness and bring us peace. (John 16:33).

This is our season of Advent when Christians ought to be joyfully expectant as we prepare for and celebrate the Nativity of JESUS CHRIST and HIS second coming, but the devil will try to redirect our focus and steal the joy that these appearances guarantee. (John 10:10.)

We must not give in! We must do as GOD’s WORD says and resist Satan’s lies (James 4:7.) Believe the everlasting promises of the immutable GOD whose ways, which are Himself in action, must remain forever the same – He is eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, and tender.

Though hardships and trials may be our current reality we fight dark moods and thoughts and daily remind ourselves of who we are and what GOD has done for us through His SON.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. Isaiah 9:6-7

Ours are tidings of comfort and Joy!

We are in safest and surest hands! 

Prayer and Thanksgiving:  The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned Matthew 4:16. Holy and everlasting GOD and Father, we thank you for sending YOUR SON, the TRUE LIGHT of the WORLD to lift us out of depression and darkness. Thank YOU that because we are YOURS we have the light of life to withstand every weapon formed against us and we have no fellowship with darkness. Thank YOU for these good tidings of great comfort and joy – that YOU are with us, our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. Thank YOU for the assurance that we are safe because YOU are the unchanging GOD and ever gracious to YOUR people. In this we rejoice and we pray all things in JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

The Real Reason for the Season

Christians and non-Christians alike are aware that Christmas is about JESUS CHRIST. But why do we really need Christmas?

Christmas exists because we sin.

The story of Christmas actually begins in the Old Testament, Genesis 3, with the fall of the human race.

Eve is deceived by Satan in the guise of a serpent; she and Adam disobey GOD, eat from the only tree in the garden forbidden to them and are banned from Eden, GOD’s paradise. Sin and death enter the world and the serpent, Eve, and Adam are cursed.

However, GOD shows mercy and promises restoration – a way to reinstate us into His paradise through a special child who would one day be born to defeat the serpent: “I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

GOD fulfilled His Genesis 3 promise in the New Testament when GOD the SON is born of a virgin by the power of His Holy Spirit. The Gospel of Matthew’s telling of JESUS’ birth confirms the reason for JESUS’ birth through an angelic messenger whom GOD sent to Joseph, the soon-to-be husband of the Virgin Mary:

“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 2:20-21

So what about JESUS should we celebrate?

Nativity scenes are everywhere during the Christmas Season – on post cards, in Malls, on clothing, dishes, postage stamps, gift wrap, etc., with the central figure being a tiny, swaddled baby JESUS lying in a “manger.”

This helpless infant JESUS is not all that Christians celebrate.

GOD sent His SON to earth on a mission; JESUS proclaims this at the very start of His earthly ministry:  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,..” Luke 4:18

The JESUS of Christmas is a Divine force…

• GOD in human flesh: In the beginning the Word [JESUS] already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God….So the Word became human and made his home among us. John 1:1, 14. JESUS Himself indicated a shared nature with the Father, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30; (CHRIST) said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;” Hebrews 10:5
• Heavenly authority with power to forgive our sin and release us from bondage: Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? … I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2: 5-10
• Creator of new life for us: Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die…” John 11:25.26; The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

The birth of JESUS simply set in motion GOD’s Genesis 3 plan that eventually led to His dying for us.

While time off from work, giving and receiving gifts, eggnog and Christmas lights are all well and good, the Christian celebration is about much more.

We are sinners and the reason CHRIST came. We must put a greater focus at Christmas on the fact that His birth initiated our ransom from the captivity of sin by the sacrifice of His body on a cross (Hebrews 10:10).

We celebrate also with an eye on JESUS’ second coming when Satan’s defeat is complete and we are restored to our original place in Paradise with our Father.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appears.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

"He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord...” Luke 1:14-17

Prayer and Thanksgiving:  The true LIGHT that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but his own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:912 Holy Father, our prayer is that this year we would recognize the true gift we were given to celebrate at Christmas. That we worship and adore JESUS for who He truly is - GOD the SON come to earth with all authority and power to save His own. Thank you JESUS that every day of our lives YOU remain Emmanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. In this we rejoice! Asking all things in the NAME above all names. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

The American singer and variety show host Andy Williams released a Christmas album in 1963 that included one of the most enduring standards played during the Christmas season even today – It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

The second stanza of the song says:

It's the hap-happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

When friends come to call

It's the hap-happiest season of all  

Unfortunately, some of us, Christians included, have already decided that this Christmas is not going to be the hap-happiest season of all. The Season has hardly begun and already we feel dejected. We are convinced that for us it’s not going to be wonderful or gay. 

We had some bad experiences this year, our pain is still too raw, and we are not quite ready or able to make that shift!  

Spoiler alert! Christmas is the Christian's season of HOPE.

Some of us started out this year with great expectation and dreams but along the way we were blindsided by betrayal, disillusionment and painful losses. Others brought last year’s trouble into 2017 but with a belief that all would be resolved, which has not been the case.

Please be persuaded that, despite the letdowns, betrayals, job lay-offs, scary diagnoses, legal trouble, disappointments, hurts, pains, and losses, we are not alone nor are we forgotten, and we do have much to celebrate.

We are so incredibly LOVED by the Creator of the universe that He came to take care of us!

Christmas may not be the hap-happiest season but it is, (with Easter) our most JOYFUL!  

“…I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD. Luke 2:10

For the children of GOD, Christmas is primarily about celebration and grateful worship.

Christmas became necessary because we have a need we could never satisfy on our own and GOD stepped down from Heaven to take care of that need. Out of His great love for us, GOD became a human being in the Person of JESUS CHRIST. He did it because we needed a Savior.

For this reason we celebrate Christmas and worship our LORD with gratitude.

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Luke 2:20

At this moment, we may not feel up to gift shopping, sending greeting cards, decorating our homes, putting up lights, cooking, visiting friends etc. but we ought not to approach the Christmas season with a feeling of dread.

We must instead think of the reason for Christmas and ask GOD to give us hearts to celebrate JESUS and what His coming to earth means for us, not just in this present life but for all eternity. If we begin now and are consistent in this prayer our feelings will change, even if the reasons for our suffering do not. 

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 1 John 4:9

We must know that circumstances notwithstanding, this one truth remains. GOD LOVES us totally! 

Why does GOD love us so much? Because GOD is love itself!

Child of GOD, the Season of Christmas IS the season to immerse ourselves in GOD’s LOVE. It is the most wonderful time of the year!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we worship and adore you! Thank you for a love so inexpressible; LOVE that caused YOU to leave YOUR Heavenly Throne and come down to earth to save us. YOU gave us this magnificent event to celebrate especially each year so help us who are struggling with great sadness, disappointments and losses to rise above them because of what YOU have done and rejoice for the hope we now have for all eternity. YOU have not abandoned us and so we too can join with the angels and the shepherds in celebrating the birth of JESUS CHRIST, or Savior and our LORD! Thank you for being our Emmanuel and our Prince of Peace in the midst of the storms of life. Strengthen us to endure with JOY! With gratitude we sing, “Glory to GOD in the Highest!” All dominion and power belong to you for ever and ever! We pray and ask all things in the name of JESUS. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

“If I had ten thousand tongues it just wouldn't be enough to say, Thank You.” These are lyrics written by American gospel music artist Richard Smallwood as part of the popular praise and worship song titled “Thank YOU.”

The writer of Psalm 136 is exuberant in his song of thanksgiving to GOD. He thanks GOD for His goodness, His Creation, and a slew of miraculous events He did on behalf of the Nation of Israel. In all 26 stanzas of praise the author acknowledges that GOD’s actions is motivated by LOVE.

It is GOD’s love for humanity that nailed our Savior, JESUS CHRIST to the cross to atone for our sin and His love remains constant through all the generations.

In the spirit of the Nation’s Thanksgiving Day celebration tomorrow, may we give serious thought to what GOD’s enduring LOVE has done for us – from orchestrating our salvation before the beginning of time to caring for us and our loved ones daily from generation to generation.

May we aspire like the psalmists to remember the goodness of GOD in our own lives, and His LOVE, and consider that, if we did have ten thousand tongues, it just wouldn't be enough to say, “Thank YOU!”

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,…Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people. Psalm 107:31-32

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our gracious and loving Father, we thank YOU for being GOD of gods and LORD of lords. We thank you for your goodness and YOUR love that endures throughout the generations. We thank YOU for the beauty of YOUR Creation, YOU made everything in this world for us to enjoy. We thank YOU for the wonder of birth and life and the mystery of love and loving. We thank YOU for our spouses, or families and friends and the Body of CHRIST. We thank YOU for talents and the privilege to make a difference in the Kingdom. We thank you for the big things and the little things, for trials and joys, disappointments and achievements, may all draw us nearer to YOU in humble praise. We thank YOU above all, Father, for the gift of YOUR only SON to save us and for the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. We thank YOU, O Father, we just THANK YOU for being YOURSELF our Portion and all that we need. We give YOU all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise, and we pray all things in JESUS’ Mighty NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

A Puritan Prayer of Thanksgiving

I own a devotional titled The Valley of Vision – A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotion (ed. Arthur Bennett.) The collection are extracts from *Puritan literature and represent the Puritan character and lifestyle which was centered on the practice of prayer and meditation.

Often I would reach for this collection during my morning devotions or when I need a quiet meditation moment as I find the depth of spiritual fervor and vulnerability expressed in these prayers both inspirational and encouraging. 

This volume is not meant to be used as a prayer manual. Our prayers should be offered out of our own craving for GOD and personal petitions. We learn to pray simply by praying often and communicating our own thoughts and desires to our heavenly Father, our GOD and Shepherd who has a unique purpose for each of our lives.  

However, in the spirit of the Season, I am sharing the following Praise and Thanksgiving prayer in hopes that it would inspire you to greater heights of gratitude to our Creator, as it does me.

We have so much for which to be grateful this Thanksgiving, and daily!

O MY GOD,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee

for the soul thou hast created,

for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;

for the body thou hast given me,

for preserving its strength and vigour,

for providing senses to enjoy delights,

for the ease and freedom of my limbs,

for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,

for a full table and overflowing cup,

for appetite, taste, sweetness,

for social joys of relatives and friends,

for ability to serve others,

for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,

for a mind to care for my fellow-men,

for opportunities of spreading happiness around,

for loved ones in the joys of heaven,

for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my GOD, through time and eternity.

*The Puritan religious movement took place in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

On Giving Thanks

On Thursday November 23 the Nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day. This is the most celebrated holiday In the United States with more people observing this Holiday than do Christmas. Families throughout the US make a concerted effort to get together on Thanksgiving Day to enjoy a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings and afterwards watch a football game on TV.

Thanksgiving also kicks of the Christmas Holiday shopping season with lots of bargains offered online and in brick and mortar department stores.

Children of God and believers in His Son ought to daily live a life of thanksgiving.

 “But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation….” Psalm 79:13.

Typically, our prayers of thanksgiving focus on our creature comforts (clothing, food, shelter, our new car, children’s health, careers, etc.). But GOD our Father is more than His provisions – He is our Portion.

Greater than our possessions is GOD Himself.

The psalmist Asaph writes, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Psalm 73:25-26. As he looks around him, he sees the world as unbalanced and unfair but Asaph remembers that he is only a visitor here on earth. He has an inheritance, a portion, which is GOD Himself, as does every child of GOD!

GOD’s attributes are the parts of Himself which make Him Other.  

These are among the attributes of GOD we should acknowledge with thanksgiving, even more than we do our worldly comforts.

1. GOODNESS/ UNFAILING LOVE: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34, 41; “…unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.” Psalm 62:12. God alone is good whose love is perfect.
2. MERCY: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope. 1 Peter 1:3. GOD’s mercy originates in His goodness and it is great, abundant and everlasting.
3. HOLINESS: “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness.” Exodus 15:11; Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Habakkuk 1:13. GOD alone is independently, infinitely holy. All that is morally excellent is found in Him. The Scriptures frequently refer to GOD as “The Holy One.”
4. CREATIVITY: “with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1; “…proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.” Psalm 26:27. God created the entire universe, the heavens and the earth, and He keeps it all in perfect order.
5. POWER: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:7; “God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you.” Psalm 62:11. The power to exalt or bring down belongs to GOD alone.
6. TRUSTWORTHINESS: The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:13; For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. Psalm 33:4. We can trust GOD to act truthfully and with fairness.
7. WISDOM: To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might. Daniel 2:23; “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” Job 12:13. God is Wisdom – the Bible describes Him as the only wise GOD and tells us also that even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. By His wisdom alone He created all things according to His will and purpose.
8. PATIENCE: The Lord is …full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. Psalm 145:8; “You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness,” Nehemiah 9:17. Stephen Charnock, Puritan Biblical Scholar  says in part about GOD’s patience, “GOD’s slowness to anger is a branch from His mercy…. mercy pities (the creature) in his misery, and patience bears with the sin which engendered the misery, and is giving birth to more.”
9. FAITHFULNESS: “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalm 36:5. GOD cannot be unfaithful as it would be contrary to who He is. GOD by His very nature is immutable.
10. IMMUTABILITY: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17; “For I am the Lord, I do not change;” Malachi 3:6; God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:14. GOD’s immutability is what distinguishes Him from the rest of His creatures. GOD is perpetually the same – there is no change in His being, attributes, or purposes.

These characteristics identify GOD as GOD and separate from His creatures. The One true living and eternal Father who will also provide our daily “needs”.

When we know GOD as Himself we are able to ascribe to Him a more meaningful form of thanksgiving:

• We give thanks with greater faith because GOD is the “I AM.”
• We give thanks with confidence in GOD’s purpose because we are sure of His faithfulness and goodness.
• We give thanks with hope for the future of our generations to come because GOD is immutable.

We give GOD all that is due to Him as our Portion and our inheritance forever.

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” Psalm 50:23.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: We give thanks to YOU O Great I AM because YOU are good and YOUR mercy endures forever. We acknowledge that YOU are Wisdom and Power, Creator of Heaven and earth and all that is in it. We thank YOU most of all as The Holy One who personifies all the fruit of the Holy Spirit richly and perfectly – that YOU are Light in whom no darkness can exist. We thank YOU for the perfect gift sent down from Heaven to redeem us – JESUS CHRIST, our LORD. Father, we delight ourselves in YOU first and foremost, trusting that YOU will be our PORTION for all eternity. Now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To GOD our Savior, Who alone is Wise, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now and forever. Amen!

Always by GOD’s WORD and prayer,

Cecile

Fear Not and Stand Firm!

Two weeks ago I started a study of the Book of Exodus which tells of GOD fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham by delivering his descendants from slavery in Egypt and taking them to the Promised Land.

By the end of chapter 12 the Israelites have left Egypt and are on their way.

The thirteenth chapter opens with Moses giving the people careful instructions for celebrating a supernatural deliverance from Egypt “This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand.” (13:3).

We also see the LORD Himself guiding Israel’s journey. The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 13:21

However, despite all Israel has experienced, just days into the journey a pattern begins to emerge and we are reading about a group of people without faith, gratitude and obedience.

As GOD planned it, the Pharaoh has a change of heart in chapter 14 and sends his army to bring Israel back. When Israel realizes that they are being pursued, their immediate reaction is panic and complaining.  

“Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” 14:11-12

Moses calms them and reassures them that GOD is for them and is not letting them down: “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 14:13-14

We are familiar with the events that follow – GOD parts the Red Sea to allow Israel to cross over on dry land and then brings the sea back together and the Egyptian army perishes. At this time, we are told, Israel sees the awesome power of their GOD and has faith in Him.

When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses. 14:31

Exodus 15:1-18 recounts a victory celebration of song and dance before the LORD: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory…”

BUT just three days later, they revert to the same behavior!

The people are now in the wilderness and are thirsty but the water is bitter and unfit to drink. Do they stop and ask anything of the awesome GOD in whom they have put their faith, the LORD who triumphed gloriously and is now their strength and their song of victory? NO! They turn surly and hostile against Moses… the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” 15:24 And with great forbearance GOD makes the water sweet and fit to drink.

By now these people ought to recognize a pattern of faithfulness in GOD, right?  Not nearly!

Less than a month and one chapter later they are grumbling again because they are hungry. “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” 16:2. Not a shred of gratitude for what GOD is doing and has done; they see only the pleasures of the “good ole days,” which we know weren’t!

But again GOD fixes that problem and they have bread and meat that they don’t have to work for – it rains down from heaven for them. So are we OK now? Not yet!

We are barely into chapter 17 and we see them again complaining to Moses about not having water: “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”17:3. At this point Moses has lost his patience and cries out to GOD for help: “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” 17:4

But guess who is still patient and faithful? Yet again GOD provides for them!

Except for the one time when GOD took them through the Red Sea and destroyed the Egyptian army after them, we see not a single record of thanksgiving from Israel’s lips for any of the provisions of water, bread, meat and daily guidance GOD faithfully provides.  Actually, I am getting a sense of a spirit of entitlement here.

If you have read the Old Testament account of GOD’s relationship with Israel, His chosen people, you know that this behavior trend continues so that the people who came out of Egypt never made it into the Promised Land. Their descendants didn’t do much better and escalated to idol worship so that eventually GOD lost patience and allowed them to be driven out of the Promised Land by their enemies and into exile and slavery.

Why am I retelling this?

Exodus chapters 13 to 17 account of Israel’s complaining and murmuring in the face of GOD’s continuing goodness can sometimes be hilarious because it’s so simplistic in its arrogance. But ultimately, I began to think about my own walk with GOD and was both convicted and mortified to recall the number of occasions when I faced difficult circumstances and responded as one for whom GOD had never done a thing. Which is totally untrue!

How many times has GOD come through for any of us and then at the very first sign of a later discomfort or trouble our first response is to call a friend to complain. We fail to recognize that for a child of GOD to act this way is to do what Moses accused Israel of doing – testing GOD by saying in effect, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” Exodus 17:7.

The answer is, GOD never leaves us today as He never left Israel then. So our first response in times of trouble and need ought to be to turn to our loving and faithful Father. Instead we grumble, complain and seek out other avenues hoping to alleviate the problems on our own. Or we seek out idols for comfort.

There are many accounts in the Old Testament of GOD offering forgiveness and restoration to Israel if they would turn back to Him but they keep falling away. (Jeremiah 3:22; Zechariah 1:3; 

Malachi 3:7). 

Finally, GOD sends His Son to redeem His people. The point being, GOD has done more than enough for us and He continues to love us faithfully even when we are not doing the same for Him.

J. Hudson Taylor writes that “All GOD’s promises are in the present tense.” We can apply this thought to any promise as we need but let’s try Psalm 23:1a, which I have done for my own personal use:

The LORD is my Shepherd – 

this minute; in the next hour; tonight; tomorrow; next week; Sunday through Saturday; next month; next year; 20 years from today; on your vacation; in your new location; in a hospital bed; at a job interview; as you take your marriage vows; when your spouse leaves; as the coffin is lowered  into the cold earth; as you birth a child; when that child rebels; in good times and in bad times; continually, indefinitely, intentionally….forever, the LORD is your Shepherd.

GOD’s promises are sure and unchangeable.

While we may reach an impasse of some sort in our journey, like Israel did at the Red Sea, we must hold fast to GOD! We do not panic, murmur, or complain. We tell GOD our troubles, ask for His help and watch Him do what we could never think to ask for or imagine.

Our GOD is an ever present help!

Fear not and stand firm!

All Scripture is inspired by God, is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our gracious and loving Father, thank YOU for being our GOD and cause us to seek YOU first and always, in good times and in bad. Thank YOU that YOUR loving kindness is better than life itself and our lips shall always praise YOU. Cause us to never forget YOUR benefits – that YOU are the GOD who heals our diseases, redeems our lives from destruction, crowns us with tender mercies, and satisfies our mouths with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Above all, Father, YOU forgive our sins for all time when YOU gave YOUR only SON. Thank YOU for being our Portion; YOU are all that we need. We give YOU all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise, and we pray all things in JESUS’ Mighty NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Suffering Has a Divine Purpose – Part 2

GOD never promised that His children would live blissfully happy and trouble-free lives. Here on earth we will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33), but suffering has a divine purpose. 

GOD even uses suffering we bring on ourselves due to our own disobedience for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28)

GOD uses all of life’s suffering as a pathway to victory and joy.

Because of CHRIST’s atoning work on the cross, all sin is forgiven. However, we should not excuse trials we suffer as a result of ungodly choices as we are not spared the natural consequences of sin.

Our Heavenly Father loves us too much to allow our behavior to go uncorrected – He must remind us that He does not take sin lightly. We must be prepared to accept the penalty for our actions.

Thankfully, we serve a GOD who judges our sin fairly and with righteousness. GOD never intends to punish for His gratification, but to humble and sanctify us as forgiven sinners. Even though our actions grieve His Spirit, GOD uses our wrongs to draw us closer and to shape and mold us into the image and likeness of CHRIST.  He makes our transgressions work for our good and His divine purpose.

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:7&10  

King David experiences first-hand GOD’s fairness in judging sin and its consequences.

Most of us are familiar with the Old Testament story of David’s sin of murder against his army officer Uriah to cover his sin of adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. David’s sin is exposed by the Prophet Nathan and he acknowledges that he deserves to die at GOD’s hands. However, GOD gave Nathan a message for David – that GOD had forgiven him (“The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die”) but there would be consequences (Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die.) 2 Samuel 12:13-14.

Out of this experience, David wrote Psalm 51 which has served as a great source of encouragement to many in need of GOD’s mercy and restoration for sin.

David also penned Psalm 103 which opens with a crescendo of worship to GOD, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.” followed by many reasons why we ought to praise GOD, one being “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.” (103:10)

We all deserve GOD’s full wrath for our sin but we receive forgiveness and a comparatively mind chastisement because the eternal punishment for them has been paid by His SON’s sacrifice on the cross.

CHRIST bore the full wrath of GOD in our stead. The least we can do is accept with grace the natural consequences for our wrong-doing and praise GOD that He works all for our good in the end.

Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord. Psalm 103:22

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our gracious and loving Father, thank YOU for loving us enough to forgive all our sins, crown us with tender mercy, and restore us to righteousness when we fail. Thank you for turning our downfall into divine glory. Thank YOU Father for giving us victory over sin and death through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, for abundant life here on earth and everlasting life with YOU in Heaven. We give YOU all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise, and we pray all things in JESUS’ Mighty NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile

Suffering Has a Divine Purpose – Part 1

Life is full of surprises some of which can bring great sorrow.

As children of GOD, new believers especially, we can be lulled into thinking that we are immune from experiencing hardships and painful circumstances. But as the old folks who know better would say, “Just keep on living!”

On the other hand you might right now be experiencing a sorrow or know another believer who is suffering deeply. Unfortunately, we are many who have experiences to share.

• We raise a child to honor godly principles who, as a young adult, chooses a lifestyle that contradicts everything they learned and want “nothing to do with your God.”
• A believing spouse suddenly walks away from a 25-year marriage that we thought was rock solid because the “found someone that really meets their needs.”
• A loved one dies too young and too soon after being diagnosed with an aggressive illnesses, or by suicide.
• We suffer another heartbreaking miscarriage and the doctor tells us, there may never be another chance.

Our trials may vary in nature and intensity but all are painful. 

If somewhere along the way we learn that children of GOD ought always to be blissfully happy and trouble-free then when are faced with hardship and sorrow we will feel bewildered and betrayed.

After all, we love JESUS, we serve faithfully and give generously to our ministries; we pray for others and read our Bibles daily. We are not perfect by any means but we are trying to please GOD and live the way CHRIST followers ought to. So why has this suffering come to us?

“Where is God?”

With GOD, we have only good news and good news – God is with us in our trials and GOD approves our trials.

The Bible clearly teaches that GOD loves His children. The Bible also teaches us that GOD works all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28.) The trials and sorrows He allows in our lives are part of the working together of all things for good.

We may not see or understand that "good" now and may never see it in our lifetime but we have to believe, even while we are in pain, that our suffering has a divine purpose.

GOD understands our pain and provides hope, encouragement, comfort and love.

Always GOD’s WORD is the place where we find everything that we need for our time of need. The Scriptures are alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

GOD’s WORD reaches the deepest parts of our beings. When a spouse, close relative, or most trusted friend is unable to reach us GOD’s WORD can, and for times of sorrow and struggle, none does it better than the Book of Psalms.

King David wrote most of the hymns of petition and praise that make up the Psalms. Few characters in the Bible suffered as much as he did – betrayal, persecution, loss, death threats, David experienced it all.

Many verses and whole chapters from the Psalms give us courage to face painful situations and comfort in our sorrows. These are a few favorites:

• The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10
• Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:1-2
• Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…Psalm 23
• …The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27
• You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted…Psalm 46
• Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him…Psalm 62
• …Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66
• ..For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone… Psalm 91
• Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:6-7
• I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense….Psalm 118:13-14
• He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121
• How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139

In all of life’s trials GOD gives us a pathway to joy and victory.

But will GOD use even the afflictions we experience by our own disobedience for His divine purpose?

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Abba Father, YOU are the LORD, KING, Creator and the GOD who made us for YOUR purpose and YOUR glory. Father, forgive us for desiring only good from YOU and despising our afflictions that molds and shapes us to be more like CHRIST. Thank YOU for JESUS who promised that He has overcome the world so we can have peace in our afflictions. Open our eyes to the truth that our lives are buried in CHRIST so we will have the same experiences He did including victory and YOUR glory. Remind us Father that when we are truly “home” worldly suffering will end, that YOU will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be neither mourning nor crying nor pain anymore. Thank YOU that our worldly experiences are not worth comparing with the glory that awaits us in eternity with YOU and YOUR SON. We give all glory, all honor, and all praise to YOUR NAME as we ask all things in His NAME.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile