October 21 2018

O Lord, How Long?


Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O LORD—how long?
Return, O LORD, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
Psalm 6 6:2-34

The Psalms are a wonderful comfort in our times of distress. 
Where else can you find someone crying out honestly from the depths of their pain, grief, confusion, and finding solace?
Where else can you read where it seems as if it was written by you and for you? 
Where else can you feel somewhat “normal” in the plethora of your mixed up feelings and realize there is someone out there who understands?
 In this Psalm David cries out,
“But You, O Lord- how long?” 
Is that your heart cry today? 
If it is, it is ok? 
David was a man after God’s own heart and he cried out “O Lord – how long?” 
What David discovers throughout his life and his writing is that he can cry out to the Lord honestly and the Lord will answer and turn his cries for help into psalms of praise.
What do you need to cry out to the Lord for/about today? 
Go ahead and do so. 
He is waiting to hear from you, from the realness of your heart, so He can touch those very real places within you and bring you out into the places He has gone ahead and prepared for you.

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 20 2018

What did the Lord say?

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41
Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side.”  
He didn’t say, “We’re going down in the storm halfway across.”  
But when the storm came up the disciples forgot what Jesus had told them and they became afraid in the midst.  
What has Jesus told you?  
What did Jesus tell you about the destination?  
Where did Jesus say you were going?  
We can’t focus on what happens in the middle of the journey, rather what Jesus said. 
If Jesus said it, it will be. 
In the midst of the storm, when it feels like the boat is going down, recall to your mind what Jesus said.  
And be encouraged in the midst.

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 19 2018

The Lord Stood With Me

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 2 Timothy 4:16-17

Paul was forsaken by all those around him when it was most important. 
BUT……
The Lord stood with him and not only stood with him but strengthened him in the process. T
he Lord also delivered him out of the mouth of the lion. 
The Lord that did that for Paul will do that for us as well. 
When we feel forsaken by those around us, we need to learn to stand firm and confident in the support and strength of the Lord.
Paul wasn’t delivered from the lion by his friends, but by his Lord!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT