Laurie Hopkins

August 22 2018

Roots and Rivers of Water

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

On this journey called life we meet many challenges.
Some are run of the mill, daily, annoyances.
Some are earthshaking encounters.
What do you do when life as you know it is shattered?
How do you pick up the pieces and move on?
Jeremiah talks about 3 different aspects.
1) Our trust in the Lord is the anchor that keeps us from capsizing in the midst of the storm.
2) Our roots are what keep us at least semi upright as the storm rages and once it passes.
3) The rivers of water our roots find themselves in are what allow for restoration in the years that follow.
The active storm has passed.
Others have moved on.
But you feel like you are still in the midst.
Picking up the pieces of what is left.
Trying to straighten out the tree that is now severely bent over.
Fear not.
Daily bring it to the Lord.
Speak of your trust in Him, to yourself and to others.
Your roots are strong; they will not allow you to topple.
Allow the water of the Word and Spirit of the Lord to bath those roots and begin to restore what the enemy has stolen.
That your trunk will be tall and strong, your leaves will be green and full and the fruit that you produce out of this storm will help to feed others that find themselves in similar situations.

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August 21 2018

Contentment

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13

Have we learned to be content regardless of our circumstances?

Have we learned to be content when things are going well and when things are not going so well?

In today’s world it seems we are just as discontented when things are going well and when they are not going well.

What was the key to Paul’s contentment?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

When things were going well He saw the Hand of God in it.

When things were not going well, he choose to rely on the strength of Christ in His life to get through.

Are you contented today?

Are you ready to acknowledge the Hand of God in and on your life?

Are you ready to be strengthened in and through Christ?

Once you get to that place, contentment will follow.