 
Devotions that will Become a Remedy During Difficult Times

Diane K Hiltz Chamberlain

Copyright by Diane K Hiltz Chamberlain

Smashwords Edition

Acknowledgements

I thank Jesus Christ, for these beautiful words that He has given me over time! If it wasn't for His wisdom; then there would be no words to write. Jesus is the main source, for everything in my life and I know that just as these words have healed my heart and soul; they will also touch your heart in a very special way.

Through time, I have come to see that Jesus' words are the only remedy and cure, for what ails me; whether it's a physical or emotional need. His words also have a way of soothing the mind, from the cares and worries that attempt to take over our thoughts, while going through times of distress.

In addition, I would like to dedicate this book; to those who are going through very difficult moments of pain and heartache, in their lives. Our circumstances have a way of leading us down dark and dismal paths that can allow us to feel, as though we will never be able to press on in life; but when we use God's words of hope to become medicine, to our hurting souls and spirits; then once more, we can see a glimpse of light; that can keep us focused on a powerful God, rather than a weak circumstance.

Introduction

Are you looking for the key that can unlock the circumstance; that has been attempting to keep you in bondage? Have you tried everything on your own; only to find yourself still at the bottom of your pit of despair? Come and find renewed hope and a way that will lead you out of your wilderness of despair, through Author Diane K Chamberlain's devotional e-book..."Devotions that will Become a Remedy During Difficult Times." The devotional writings within this book were first given to the author, as she faced overwhelming moments of pain and heartache and became the tools that would cultivate her heart and produce new and lasting growth.

"Devotions that will Become a Remedy During Difficult Times" is filled with 99 inspirational devotions that will shed light, on the darkest moment of despair; while replacing the difficult moments in life, with a remedy that can only be found through Jesus Christ. The devotions can be used on a daily basis or they can be used as a means of inspiration, for a specific need. As the author found her own way of escape, during the deepest darkest moments of trial; she is now sharing these beautiful words; that were truly inspired by God; as a means of also reaching out to others, who live in despair.

Table of Contents

Opening Doors to Evil

Leaning on God through the Good and Bad

Do we believe the Truth or the Lie?

We Experience a Complete God When We Completely Turn Away From Adversity

I'd Rather Have Jesus

A Perfect Love that Never Fails

A New Set of Footprints

Count Your Many Blessings

No More Stumbling in the Dark

Suffering for the Good

God Never Died to Bring Defeat into Our Lives

Walking Away from Bondage

Seeking for the Answers

God is Bigger than Any Mountain of Circumstance

Has Heaven Become a Means of Escape?

God Is Never Too Busy

Are We Placing God On The Back Burner of Our Lives?

More than Conquerors

I Can't Live a Day without You!

Our Circumstances are never a Waste

A Strong God

Reasons for Despair

Never Forsaken

Praise Can Free Us from the Shackles of Despair

Farther along we'll Understand Why

How Our Words Affect Our Lives

Perfect Love

Renewal

God Has a Plan

Hidden Treasures

Trust...a Protective Shelter

God Replenishes Our Loss

A God that Prevails

Reaching Out Through Despair

Hope...a Pathway that Never Ends

Have We Shut the Door to Hope?

God Remains Faithful through the Storm

Replacing Our Dreams for His Desires

Extending Our Relationship with God

Time Brings Beauty

Exchanging Our Strength for His

Reflecting on God's Presence

Never Abandoned

Hopelessness Begins When We Make Our Problems Larger Than God

A New Day with New Mercies

God's Presence through Nature

Where Do Our Words Take Us?

Suffering for a Season

A Spiritual Cleansing

A Puzzle Piece of God's Plan

Pressing On for God's Best

Anchored to the Haven of Rest

Self-Blame...a Wallowing Hole of Despair

The Greatest Companion through Adversity

Fellowship with God Makes the Journey Easier

Is God Seen As Something Greater Than Our Affliction?

How are we viewing our Circumstances?

His Beauty for our Ashes

Are We Attentive to God's Ways?

God Will Lift Us up When the World Puts Us Down

Our Only Source of Provision

God Never Lifted Us Up To Let Us Down

Are We Swift to Hear or Quick to Speak?

Old Things Are Behind Us While New Things Await Us

God's Desires Are Found When We Delight In Him

Rising Above the Obstacle of Guilt

What Does The Resume Of Our Life Reveal?

God's Creation Is a Reminder of His Power

Yet Still I Rise

God Unveils Each Layer of His Plan

There to the End

More than Just an Ordinary Death

Faith That Can Draw Us to the Master's Touch

Are We Willing To Pick Up Our Cross For Christ?

God's Breath Revitalizes Our Spirits

A Brick Wall of Circumstance Is Nothing to a Powerful God

God's Love Carries On

Handing It All Over to God

God Knows What He's Doing

A Circumstance Can't Save Itself

Where Does Worry Take Us?

Our View of Pain through God's Eyes

Our Words Can Defeat Us

God Is Never a Quitter

Go for the Prize

Where Are You God?

Are We Imprisoned Within Our Own Thoughts?

Are We Standing on God's Promises or are we viewing them from a Distance?

There Is a Remedy

There Is Someone Who Cares

No Matter Where We Are...God Is There

Reflecting on God's Power

Weakness is the Beginning of New Strength

God is Closest When We Feel Distant from Him

He Was There All the Time

No Uncertainties with God

Do We Lack God's Everlasting Peace?

Christ Understands the Difficult Roads

Positive Thinking Brings Us a Victory

Opening Doors to Evil

What does it mean to give place to the devil? Ephesians 4:26-27 reads..."Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (27) neither give place to the devil." When we open a door to evil, by the way we react to a circumstance; we must remember to close it, so we don't allow Satan to have a place to work even more within our hearts.

A door can be opened to evil, when our attitude changes from one that is good and positive, to one that becomes negative. We know that we aren't perfect people and we know that we live in an imperfect world, so we will face times when it's more difficult to keep the door closed to evil.

Our hearts can have 2 doors. The front door should always be a place for God to feel welcome; a place where the good things of God can refresh us and allow us to know where we are headed in life; while on the other hand, there can also be a back door to our hearts; where Satan tries to sneak in and rob us of our peace and happiness.

There will be times when we face pain, heartache or grief and we can be so caught up in the moment, that we allow these feelings to keep the back door of our heart open to evil without even realizing it. Just as we check our doors each night, to make sure that they are shut and locked properly; we need to also check the back door of our hearts, so that we aren't allowing more evil to enter. How do we do this? When we are facing a moment, when everything in our lives seems to be out of control; we can shut the door to evil, by praying or talking to God...reading His word or even by singing praises to Him, instead of getting caught up into the moment of darkness. These acts of love towards God, allows the door of evil to remain shut and locked, so Satan can't creep in and bring more destruction into our hearts and minds.

We know that there will be times when we get angry or upset and God understands but we must also remember to not leave those doors open to more evil. When the back door is shut and locked to evil and the front door of our hearts are open to God; then we are going to live with more peace and harmony, as we experience God's presence living within us.

Leaning on God through the Good and Bad

Our faith should remain standing, whether we are going through good times or difficult moments because Jesus died, that we should always remain free through Him. It's so easy to stand strong with Jesus when nothing is going wrong in our lives but the true test begins when we are facing a struggle. Are we allowing Christ's death on the cross to become strength to our hurting souls or are we allowing the affliction to place us into bondage?

In Galatians 4:28-5:1 reads..."Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. (29) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (30) Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. (31) So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (5:1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." This reading refers to the story of Sarah and Hagar. Sarah grew impatient with God and desired to have a son for Abraham, so she had her handmaid, Hagar, lie with her husband Abraham and they bore them a son. Later, Sarah did have a son, as was promised by God; but as the children began to grow; a conflict also grew between Sarah and Hagar. Eventually, Hagar was told to leave, with her son Ischmael. This story revealed that our own ways cannot mix with God's ways.

Just as the bondwoman (Hagar) was cast out; are we casting out the things in our lives that may keep us in bondage? The freedom that Christ died for cannot stand, when we are entangled with our afflictions. We will either remain free through Christ or we will become caught up in our affliction, which will only lead us further into bondage, where Satan can have control.

If we are struggling with a circumstance in our life; maybe we need to ask ourselves this question; are we standing on the promises of Christ's freedom or is our circumstance placing us into a hopeless place of bondage?

Do we believe the Truth or the Lie?

One of Satan's greatest strategies that can take us away from God is guilt. We can know in our own heart that we have done nothing wrong; but yet Satan is there; trying to convince us that we are not good people, during a weak moment in our lives. He has a way of working at our conscience, so we can be brought to a lower level of thinking; where he can disable our minds and hearts, so we don't feel worthy of anyone, including God. In I John 3:20, it reads..."For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

Even though our heart is telling us one thing; God knows the truth. He knows what is right and what is wrong, even when Satan is trying to convince us otherwise.

God doesn't expect us to please man; in fact, there will be times, when we can't always make everyone happy in this world. All that God desires of us is that we please Him. Instead of trying to gain the world's applause; all we have to do is get God's approval. When we view it that way, then life doesn't seem so difficult and filled with despair.

When we ignore guilt and aim our hearts towards pleasing God, then these feelings of despair will fade away. Let's also read on into I John 3:21, which says..."Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God." There's a big difference between a conscience that has been brought about by doing something wrong; in comparison to a conscience that's trying to make us feel guilty, for nothing we have done wrong. When our hearts condemn us, then this is guilt...brought on by Satan, to bring us low? When we have confidence that God truly loves us and that He accepts us for who we are, then we will live with a greater peace of mind.

When we can take a journey to the cross and reflect on the greatest love that could be shown to man, then we will begin to take our eyes off of the world's demands and place them back on a loving God.

We Experience a Complete God When We Completely Turn Away From Adversity

As we begin another new week; we need to start our week, by opening up our eyes to Jesus, instead of ourselves. There's a song that goes a little like this..."Open my eyes Lord, that I may see Jesus..." As I was thinking about this part of the song tonight; I was thinking, that our eyes can be closed to Jesus and His ways, when we are looking inwardly to ourselves or to other things around us. When we are more caught up into other people's lives or our own lives, then our eyes are closed to Jesus and what He desires to give us for the day.

In Psalm 119:18, it reads..."Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." How are we going to discover God's ways and desires for our lives, if our eyes aren't open to Him? Our own ways will only allow us to feel as though we are drifting at sea. We may keep moving on each day; but we never really reach the true destination that God has for us.

When our eyes are open to Him and His ways, then we also find strength that will see us through a difficult day. In Psalm 121:1,2, it reads..."I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (2) My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." When our eyes are able to see Jesus and experience the communing presence of His Holy Spirit, then we also find that we are being taken from a place of weakness, to a place of renewed strength. He begins to fill the emptiness within ourselves, so we can journey on and find His true desires for our lives.

When we have our eyes and our hearts lifted up; above man's thoughts and ways, then we are able to experience the complete fullness of God's presence and all He has to offer us each day. This week...let our prayer be...open my eyes Lord, so I can see and experience your presence!

I'd Rather Have Jesus

When we feel as though we are walking down a dark pathway, while facing trials in our lives, who do we turn too? Are we looking for some materialistic thing to comfort us or are we turning to Jesus? Who do we turn to, when the stormy winds begin to blow?

Today, a song came to my thought that's titled..."I'd Rather Have Jesus" and some of it goes like this..."I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Than to be a king of a vast domain...Or be held in sin's dread sway, I'd rather have Jesus than anything; this world affords today. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I'd rather be true to His holy name."

Trials can often take us down pathways of discouragement, even to the place where we would like to throw in the towel and quit. We can panic and find ourselves desperately searching for an answer or some materialistic thing to comfort the pain but those things are only temporary. We need an answer that will keep the heartache sustained and under control and the only One that can be all of this to us is Jesus.

The temporary solutions aren't going to draw us closer to God...only further away. Which would we rather have in life, while walking down a pathway of disappointment? Would we rather have riches and fame, to comfort us or would we rather have Jesus? Will a new house make our existing problem go away? No...Only Jesus. Would we rather have everything this world can offer us or would we rather be met and comforted by the One with the nail pierced hands? Would we rather live with the temporary comforts that will only cause us to sway, rather than standing on the firm foundation which is Jesus Christ? Are we seeking man's applause or God's approval? These are good questions to ask ourselves because one of these directions will only take us further into despair, while the other direction will lead us to peace and sustainment.

If we were to be truthful and look deep within our hearts, who would we find ourselves connected too? Are we looking for the answers through man's wisdom, material things, etc...? As we live our lives and walk through moments of pain and heartache, do these moments reveal that we are truthfully walking with Christ?

A Perfect Love that Never Fails

In this world we live in, we are judged by how we live, what kind of job we have and how we dress... but that is not how God sees us. His eyes are immediately drawn to the lowly and needy...to the one who feels deserted by the world. In Psalm 40:17, it reads..."But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."

Others may not always understand what we're going through or how difficult life may be for us; but God does. At the moment, when we feel all alone and forsaken, God remains and He steps in, where others have walked out and becomes our help and deliverer, during difficult moments in our lives.

Psalm 34:18a reads..."The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking..." We can have moments, when all we feel is loneliness but these are the moments when God is truly closer to us, than ever before. We may not be able to see Him in the flesh; but if we open up our hearts, we can feel Him in the spirit.

Jesus didn't go to a lonely hill, called Golgotha, to suffer a brutal death, just so He could walk away from us. His love is different than the love we experience in this world. His love is an ongoing love that never quits, even when we are walking through dark valleys of pain and heartache.

Isaiah 54:10 reads..."For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but my kindness shall not leave you. My promise of peace for you will never be broken, says the Lord who has mercy upon you." The love that the world offers can sometimes break our hearts. It's a love that is unpredictable...a love that can be with us at one time and gone, as quickly as one day passes into another but God's love is a love that stands on a firm foundation, called "promises". No matter what falls apart around us and no matter who walks out of our lives, His kindness will never leave us alone.

In this world we live in, we are so shaken by relationships that can make it difficult to trust but we must remember that God has a perfect love...a love that never fails or causes pain but rather, it's a comforting love that holds us close, when we need a friend.

A New Set of Footprints

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. (24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24. As we begin each day; God has created new steps for us to follow. These are steps that only lead in His direction, so if we are stepping into the steps that He has prepared for us each morning, then they will allow us to journey with Him throughout the day.

These are not your ordinary steps; like the world takes each day. They are steps that are surrounded with His presence, so no harm will come to us and these steps help us to know what to do throughout each day, so we don't have to figure each thing out for ourselves. These steps are brought to us each day, when we begin our day with God. As we read His word and pray or just talk with Him as a friend; He places each step before us.

One thing we need to watch for is that we don't begin with His steps and then try to leave them and walk into other steps because these are the moments that will allow us to trip and fall. Another thing; we don't have to worry if we were to fall because God's great love will lift us back up and place us into the right set of footprints because it's His loving desire, that we always follow in His steps.

We can be experiencing low self-esteem or depression or just a bad day and because of the way we feel; we can't even begin to imagine a God that would give us another try; but that's what God is famous for...new beginnings. He doesn't look at us, the way people look at each other here on earth. He went to the cross with an everlasting love; not a temporary love, so if you're feeling low today or you've had a bad day; just remember, that God will have a new set of footprints for you tomorrow. Just seek Him out at the beginning of the day and you will not only find His footprints but also His presence too.

Count Your Many Blessings

Tonight, I was thinking about some of the times in my life when I've given praise to God, at a moment when He had answered a great need in my life; but how often do we see the little things He does for us? Is our focus only on the big miracles that God can perform or are we looking for the little things that He can do through us each day?

As I was getting ready to write to you tonight; a verse was going through my head, which is found in Luke 16:10, which reads..."He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Could it be that God is testing us; to see if we are content with the little things He can do in our lives each day? When we can come down to God's level and see each daily blessing, then He knows that He has our attention. It's so easy, to go through a day and only view everything that seems to be a disaster, when God wants to show us His new mercies for each new day.

I remember a long time back, when I first began this ministry; a time when God spoke to my spirit and said..."Diane, when I can trust you with little, then I will give you more." As the years have passed, I've seen God work in a way, in which He spoke to me about many years back. Each part of this ministry has only come to me, one step at a time but I wouldn't trade God's ways for anything because I've come to see Him in a different light than I use to.

I think that when God can see us as faithful and thankful people, with what little blessings we can hold too, then we will begin to see His hand at work even more. We will not only experience God's work in our lives but we will also find that we may have a closer relationship with Him because we will be walking side by side with Him, instead of lagging behind.

For all the moments we sit and wait, for the big results to take place in our lives; how many of the little blessings are we missing out on? May we all look for God's new mercies each day! May you come to know God's very best and also the little things He can do for you today!

No More Stumbling in the Dark

We need a connection with God that will keep the pathway lit before us, otherwise we will be taken down a detour road that only leads us to darkness and despair. Today, as I was looking through my study Bible, I was noticing a different twist to Psalm 119:105 but first, I would like to share this verse with you from my King James Version of the Bible, which reads..."Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Now, as I refer to the same verse, in my study Bible, it reads..."Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling." As I was reading both versions of this verse today, I was thinking about the solar lights that are often found lighting the sidewalks and driveways of people's homes. In order for the solar lights to be lit at night, they must take in solar energy from the sun. If there is no sun, then the lights won't be able to shine so beautifully at night. In a similar way, when we aren't closely connected to God and His word, then we aren't allowing the light of His presence to shine through our hearts, unto the pathway before us.

We need our pathway to be lit by God's presence continually, so we don't fall prey, into one of Satan's traps. We need to be able to see the obstacles that may be heading our direction, so we won't trip and fall into a pit of despair. When we don't have the power of God's word shining from our hearts, then it's as if we are walking in the dark...trying to find some light, while we feel our way around, as we attempt to keep moving forward.

God's words aren't like any ordinary words. His words are full of power; the power that can shine like a flashlight, upon a darkened pathway. As we learn His word and discover new treasures, that at one time had been hidden to us, then His word beams forth from us and allows the light of His presence to glow, as we walk down the pathway towards Heaven.

Suffering for the Good

There may have been times in all of our lives, when others may have mistreated us or walked out of our lives. Maybe it's because they can't handle an illness we're going through or maybe it's because they don't like the stand we take for God. Either way; we can find it hard at times to remain calm, without getting upset or angry. In my study Bible, in I Peter 3:16-18, it reads..."Do what is right; then if men speak against you, calling you evil names, they will become ashamed of themselves for falsely accusing you, when you have done what is good. Remember, if God wants you to suffer, it is better for doing well than for doing wrong! Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners, although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God."

I had a circumstance once, when someone mistreated my husband and me because of the life we live for God. I confess that it's not always easy to refrain from speaking back but over time, God taught me, that when I speak with a good tongue, then this becomes a weapon to suppress evil. When a person is expecting another person to speak back in anger or lash out in haste and they don't, then this causes the other person to stand still in their tracks and think more, about what they may be doing.

If we do have to go through a time of suffering; God wants us to suffer for what is good, and not the bad. You ask me; what does that mean? This refers to the attacks we receive by Satan, for doing something that pleases God. Satan isn't going to come at us when we are pleasing him through anger and other negative feelings. Satan is only going to afflict us, while remaining strong in God. The affliction Satan brings to us is to try and take us from our stand with God, to a weakness; that will cause us to fall into His clutches, so we must not respond to evil, with more evil. When we do this, then the fire begins to get hot, as our responses place more fuel, on an already burning fire.

Jesus went through the same thing on the cross; when those who at one time followed and loved Him, began to spit upon Him and reject Him but even through all that He experienced; He remained faithful, and forgiving.

It's bad enough, when we are going through a difficult time in our lives and it can become even more difficult when those who we thought we could trust have walked away but even through all of the pain and heartache we experience; we must remember to remain true to God.

God Never Died To Bring Defeat into Our Lives

There may be many who will dread the start of a new day. All they see is that it's another day, of the same old problems. After days of pain, disability, no work, or financial stress; hope begins to fade, as the problem is all they see before them but for those who have truly believed and accepted Jesus into their lives; there is a renewed hope that these problems will pass away. The main hope we can cling to today, is that God cannot be a defeated god. There will come a day, when God will wipe away the last tear of pain, heartache, grief, loneliness, etc...And He will replace the moments of sadness with His presence, for all of eternity.

Recently, a song came to my thoughts and some of the song goes like this; "I hear the sound, of a mighty rushing wind and it's closer now, then it's ever been. I can almost hear the trumpet; as Gabriel sounds the chord; at the midnight cry, we'll be going home. When Jesus steps out, on a cloud to call His children; the dead in Christ shall rise, to meet Him in the air and then those that remain, shall quickly be changed; at the midnight cry, when Jesus comes again."

As we walk these lonely pathways of struggles, pain and heartache, we may be looking down a long rocky pathway but if we lift up our eyes and keep our vision straight ahead, then we will begin to notice that Heaven is in view. In Revelation 21:4, it reads..."And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

The days ahead may show signs of struggle but if we can cling to the hope, that one day God will remove each circumstance from our lives, then God's renewed hope will take us to a time when all our struggles will only become a former thing of the past. Even though the problem seems like it has no end; we need to remember that God is in control.

Walking Away from Bondage

Tonight, as I think of the children of Israel; I think about the times that God brought them out of bondage and revealed Himself to them in great and mighty ways; but yet there were times when they fell away from their faith; back to the weaknesses of their lives. We too can be like that. We can have a moment in time, when we totally believe in God's promises and then a time of testing arises and we find ourselves falling back into bondage with our weakness. In Galatians 4:8-9, it reads..."Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (9) But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"

There was a time in our lives when we didn't have Jesus living within us but now that we are Christians and we know God, then the greatness of His power should always keep us free from bondage. We do live in an imperfect world and there will be times when we will fall but we shouldn't stay on the ground where we fell; but instead, we should stand up...brush the dust of the problem from us and walk away from the things that can place us back into bondage with Satan.

Let's look at it this way...we have the greatest God living in us. He's the One who made us along with everything that exists and He's the One who controls all living things; while on the other side, we have our circumstance or weakness. When we know that we have a God that loves us so much, that He was willing to die, so we wouldn't have to be in bondage, then why are we allowing ourselves to fall into pits of bondage, away from God? Why do we allow the clutches of evil to control us, when God longs to give us His best?

When we can slow down and think life through, then we will always know the right pathway that will direct us to God. May God take our lives and have the control that He rightly desires, that we may remain free from bondage and may God always give you His very best!

Seeking for the Answers

There are moments, when we sit with our problems surrounding us and we just can't seem to find the answers to our questions. Why is it that we pray and ask for God's help but yet we still wonder why God hasn't given us the answers we so desperately need? In Matthew 7:7-8, it reads..."Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Let's say that we misplaced the keys to our vehicle and we needed to be at an appointment, at a specific time. Wouldn't we seek for the keys and keep seeking, until we find them? In a similar way, God wants us to go after our problems in the same way. He wants us to wait on Him for the answers but how are we ever going to find His answers, if we never pursue Him and look for His answers?

When God sees that we are taking His word and we are looking to Him for the answers, then He will not only know our desire through word but also through our actions. Psalm 27:7-8 reads..."Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. (8) When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, they face, Lord, will I seek." If you notice in verse 7, it says, "when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me." David is crying out to God in this verse and he's asking God to have mercy upon him and answer him but then, when we go into verse 8, it says..."Seek ye my face" and that's just what David did. David didn't just pray to God about His need but rather, he cried out, with a heart that was longing for the answer to his need.

It's so easy for us to just say a prayer to God and then walk away and go about our business but God longs for us to seek for His answers. When we seek after His answers, we are actually communicating with the Most High God and saying..."look God, I'm looking in your word for the answer to my need" and God is responding..."I see that you are seeking with your heart...here is the answer."

We not only learn to seek out the answers to our needs but by doing this, we find that our relationship begins to become stronger, as we relate to God and He responds back to us. I pray that we all will not only ask for God's help today but that we will show Him the desire of our heart, by seeking Him, through His word.

God is Bigger than Any Mountain of Circumstance

Why do we long for God to become the strength of our lives; when we turn to our weaknesses instead? This evening, I found a beautiful Bible reading, that I would like to share with you and it's found in Isaiah 40:13-17, which reads..."Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? (14) Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? (15) Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. (16) Lebanon is not sufficient for alter fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. (17) Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing."

We know that fear, doubt, or any other negative feeling comes from Satan and we know that Satan is weaker than God, so why do we allow our feelings to become more profound than the feelings we should have for God? There is nothing that can equal, to the all-knowing...all powerful God, so why do we place our feelings and circumstances above Him?

When we see our circumstance, as something that is big and powerful, then we've lost our clear view of the greatness of God. If we can't even understand the mind of Christ, then what makes us think that we can understand the reasoning behind our problems, without His wisdom? If God knows all things, then why are we trying to figure out our own problems?

If we were to just sit and think about the power that God has; I believe that we couldn't even begin to fathom His greatness. For some reason, we've got everything backwards in our lives; instead of trying to let the weakness tell us what's wrong; why don't we ask the all-knowing God?

Tonight, a song came to my thoughts and a little of it goes like this..."Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears; God is bigger than any mountain, that I can or cannot see. He's bigger than all my questions...bigger than anything; God is bigger than any problem that I can or cannot see."

If God is already bigger than the problems we've been through or the problems that may meet us down the road, then maybe we need to keep talking to Him, so He will always remain big in our eyes. May God always give His best to you; that you may always feel His greatness!

Has Heaven Become a Means of Escape?

Heaven is a place where we long to be relieved of our sufferings; but are we longing for freedom from our pain and heartache so much, that we find ourselves concentrating more on Heaven instead of our relationship with God?

I believe that our pain and heartache isn't just a difficult time we're going through but it's also a time for our relationship to become stronger throughout this time in our lives. The more we suffer with pain and heartache; the more we should find ourselves leaning on God. In Matthew 22:29-30, it reads..."Jesus replied, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. (30) At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." In this reading and the verses prior to these; the Sadducees were asking Jesus, what marriage would be like in Heaven. Jesus was pointing out to them, that it was more important to understand and know the power of God, rather than what Heaven would be like. We are living for this moment and these are the moments when God longs for us to concentrate even more on our relationship with Him.

This morning, as I was making the bed; pain began to shoot through my legs and lower back. I was thinking to myself; boy, it will be so nice to be in Heaven; free from this pain and then God spoke to my heart, as though to say; what about Me? Do we only desire to be in Heaven, to be free from pain? I felt as though a lightning bolt had just struck me. I began to realize how easy it is to turn to Heaven, into a means of being free from the sufferings we go through.

Our relationship with God, should become even stronger when we are going through difficult times in our lives. We should need Him to talk to and lean on but even more; we need to feel His presence, as a comforting Spirit that can help and sustain us through these moments that we are going through at this present time. After talking with God about our needs and learning to lean on Him through the pain; we begin to find ourselves discovering new growth, in our relationship with Him, as we begin to turn to Him for everything else in our lives.

When we leave this world of pain and heartache; we shouldn't just seek Heaven as a means of escaping our problems but we should look forward to the time, when we will meet our friend... the friend that we formed a great relationship with...a friend that we will be able to meet and be with for all of eternity.

God Is Never Too Busy

In this world we live in; we live with expectations. Seems like people expect this or that out of us and in some situations; we have to dress a certain a way or act a certain way, for a person to love us but that's not the case with Jesus. We don't have to look or act a certain way; for Him to hear our cries because He doesn't look at the outward part of us...just the heart. I believe that when we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, then that's the moment when our hearts connect with His. The moment He feels the cry of our heart next to His; He is automatically there for us.

In Hebrews 4:15-16, it reads..."For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." This is the way I see these verses...First of all God is the greatest and is above and beyond anything in this world; but yet He can be touched by a single tear that falls from our cheek. When our heart is filled with despair; He feels that despair too and He understands the moments we are going through because He went through so much Himself. We should not have to fear His presence, when we have a need and we should never have to find the words to speak to Him because they are already written upon our hearts, as a letter from our heart to His. He doesn't expect any special prayer; just that we come to Him as a humble child.

Here we have a God that is greater than anyone or anything in this world; a God that has remained sinless but yet He can take the time, to bend His ear and listen to our cries. What love! When others walk away and don't seem to understand or care; God does. In fact, He is already there for us, as He daily reads our hearts, to see what's happening in our lives each day. His heart feels and connects to the need of each individual heart each day and knows how to fix each separate need. If we could just know more about Jesus and the power that comes from His presence, then we would always be assured that He is there for us.

Are We Placing God On The Back Burner Of Our Lives?

Do we have the type of relationship with God that allows us to feel His closeness; in a way where we can feel the depths of each other's hearts? The long holiday weekend is now coming to an end; while another work week begins. We may be heading back to a job or we may have our weekly doctor appointments or some other thing to accomplish during this week. We can become so busy in our weekly schedules, that we become more in tune with the things that need to get done, that we soon discover that God has become more embedded into the background of our lives, than what we first thought.

In Psalm 37:4-5 it reads..."Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." I begin my day by saying good morning to God; from there I find that my words become a connection that keeps me in tune with God throughout the entire day. From that moment on; I find that my early connection with God reminds me to talk to Him about other needs that I may have during my day. When we share our day with God, then it allows God to see that we are taking delight in Him. As we share each detail of our day with Him, then He also shares in the relationship too, by taking delight in us, as He helps us through each obstacle we may face.

As I close my day; I get alone with God and I tell Him good-night. I thank Him for helping me through the day and for sharing in my day, then I go on to mention the needs of others I have been in contact with throughout my day. As I close my visit with God; I ask for His perfect peace to come into my sleep, and for His angels to watch over me and my husband. I let Him know that I will look forward to another day with Him in the morning; whether it be here on earth or in Heaven.

We can know about God through His word; but there's nothing like sharing our day with Him. We find that over time; we begin to form a bond that allows our relationship with Him to become even stronger. I truly believe that when we connect with God before beginning a day; then these moments will make a difference in how our day ends.

More than Conquerors

At times, we can feel as though our circumstances have taken us away from God. We can become so overwhelmed by what we are going through, that we wonder where God is. In Romans 8:35-37, it reads..."Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

When we belong to the Most High God, His love for us becomes greater than any other thing that we may experience or go through in life. His love becomes a bond, that attaches us to Him and the only way that bond can be broken, is when we walk away from Him.

Others in our lives may have given up on us and walked away but God won't. We can be going through the worse circumstance in our lives and yet, God remains. His desire for us, is to become victorious through Him...never defeated. If He was to walk out of our lives, then our circumstances would devour us and Satan would gain the victory.

We may feel as though our grief, pain, heartache, lack of work and income, etc...will eventually destroy us but that's because we are not looking for the love of God, that can comfort us and conquer our circumstances. Instead, we are seeing the problem head on and the problem is looking into our faces and saying, that it's going to win.

We need to remember that we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us. If Jesus loved us so much, that He went to a brutal cross of pain and suffering, just so we could experience His love and forgiveness, then don't you think that He will remain faithful to us? Our pain and suffering will never compare to all that Jesus went through for us on the cross. If He was willing to endure such a brutal death for us, then why wouldn't He stick around and help us through our moments of heartache and pain?

We may have days, when we feel as though we are "sheep for the slaughter" but we must remember that through Jesus Christ's love, we can overcome anything in life. May we all find Jesus today, in a way that will bring renewed hope to us, even while walking through the darkest moments?

I Can't Live a Day without You!

How often do we meditate on who God really is? Do we truly see Him as a God that we can't live without? The group Avalon sings a song titled..."Can't live a day without you" and a portion of the song goes like this..."I can't live a day without You...Lord, there's no night and there's no morning, without Your loving arms to hold me; You're the heartbeat of all I do; I can't live a day without you."

Do we see God as someone we can't live without? Do we realize that we can't even breathe the air that surrounds us each day, without God giving it to us first? Who could hang the stars in the sky at night and cause them to dance into a twinkle...who could place the sun in the sky in the morning, so we could have light for our day?...who could pull the shades down at night, so we can sleep and refresh ourselves for another new day? If we were to stop and think about God and meditate on His presence and who He really is; we would begin to realize even more, that there is nothing that we can do; without His presence being there for us.

In Lamentations 3:22-23, it reads..."It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." We may go through difficult moments in our lives or just a bad day; but whatever the situation may be; have we ever come to see, that it's only because of God, that we aren't totally consumed? When we get up each morning; do we stop to think, that God has filled our day with a new set of mercies? This is a God that takes our yesterday's away from us, so we can start a new day. This is a God that allows only certain things into our lives; while still hanging onto the control stick, so evil can't have its way.

We can get so caught up into what we may be going through for the moment; that we forget how God has been faithful and there for us each day. Maybe if we were to meditate more on who God is all about, then maybe we would not only discover the things He can do but maybe we would see a God with a greater power, that can do above and beyond our expectations.

Our Circumstances are never a Waste

We can feel defeated in life, due to the battles we are facing, either with our health or some other need. The battles can seem ongoing, as though nothing is ever going to come out of them but two things we must remember; first of all...never give in. We need to remember that as Christians, we are in a battle that rages between good and evil. The more that God uses us; the more Satan will attack because it's his plan to take us away from God and pull us into his ranks. Second...we need to remember that God will never waste the moments, when we go through difficult times. He will either use these moments to make us stronger or to help others. In Genesis 50:20, it reads..."But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." This reading is related to the time, after which Joseph's brothers had sold him to the Egyptians as a slave. Joseph not only forgave His brother's but also came to realize that God was using this situation in their lives, to help provide for them. In the end, God not only blessed Joseph but He also used the circumstance to meet the needs of Joseph's family.

Whatever Satan afflicts us with; becomes a means of God's provision. We may not always see it at the time; but when God's plan has run its course; we begin to see glimpses of light, as God takes the pain and heartache and molds it into something that can be used to help ourselves and others.

If we can live with a settled back feeling; knowing that God cannot be defeated, then we will always have the hope and reassurance that God is at work in our lives; even when we can't see or feel His presence at the time. We need to remember, that even if we walk with blind faith; that there will come a time when we will once more experience the sunshine of God's presence in our lives.

A Strong God

There are times when we feel as though our circumstance has become a strong enemy in our lives. We can feel so weak in the presence of our problems, as though our circumstance is running or dictating our lives. This enemy of pain or any other thing can prevent us from living and allow us to feel disabled, within a world of our own but we need to remember, that even when we can't become stronger than the enemy of our circumstance...God can!

In Psalm 18:17-21, it reads..."He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. (18) They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. (19) He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (20) The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. (21) For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God."

When we try to remain tough and fight our enemy of circumstance alone, then we find ourselves weakened and drained. Without God, our enemy of circumstance becomes greater than ourselves. When the battles become fierce in our lives, we need a great warrior, who can become our stay and that mighty warrior is God. We need His presence to revitalize us and bring us alive and strengthened, in a way that will allow us to become stronger than our enemy of circumstance. When God isn't there and we are weak, then the enemy can prevent us from living and being all that God desires for us to be.

How can God delight in us, when we are so deeply involved with the enemy of circumstance? How can He reach out and help someone who is more connected with their problems, than with Him? In verse 19 it says..."he delivered me, because He delighted in me." When we can show our love and devotion to Christ, even while facing these battles in our lives, then in return, He delights in helping us through these battles we're facing. When God sees the love we have for Him and the relationship that has formed with Him, even during difficult times, then He is more than willing to give us the helping hand that we need.

Reasons for Despair

God has His reasons for why He allows us to go through times of trial and testing but sometimes I wonder if He allows us to go through some of these difficult moments in our lives, so we won't forget about Calvary.

In II Corinthians 12: 7-9, it reads..."To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (9) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

The "thorn" in Paul's life represented some form of suffering. We don't really know what his "thorn" stood for. Even though he begged God 3 times to remove it; God just reminded Paul, that His grace was sufficient for him. In other words, even though God did not place the "thorn" in Paul; God was still allowing the "thorn", to keep Paul from being his own self-sufficient person. God was allowing the "thorn" to remain; to keep Paul humble, so God could work through him instead.

An old hymn, titled "Lead me to Calvary" says..."Lest I forget Gethsemane...lest I forget thine agony...lest I forget thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary." We say with our mouths..."Oh God, if you will just remove this "thorn" from me, then I will be yours forever; but what do our hearts feel? I believe that God doesn't want us to lose sight of Him and all He has for our lives, so in order to keep us humble and in the palm of His hand; sometimes He allows weakness into our lives.

In my own life; I've been asked several times...Diane, would you be as close to God, if you wouldn't have gone through all the difficulties you've experienced in your life? I'm always quick to respond and my answer is always. No. I wasn't born with the heart I have today and my relationship with God wasn't formed out of the blue or as a gift that fell from the heavens. My heart was only able to come down to God's level, through each step of pain and heartache, when I learned to depend on His crutch of sustaining love.

We can spend so much time, figuring out the answers to the questions we live with but if we would just look to God and seek His reasoning for all we endure, then we would live with more of His peace, instead of anxiety and frustration. We may not enjoy the moments of pain and heartache but we must seek the good out of our suffering, that we may discover the heart, that God longs to give us...a heart that can be used for Him.

Never Forsaken

We can experience moments in our lives, when people walk away because maybe they can't handle our chronic pain or illness or they can't deal with all the problems we're experiencing but no matter how many people walk away in our lives; God will take over and never walk away. In Psalm 27:10, it reads..."Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." In other words...we may feel forsaken; either by a family member or friend and these experiences can allow us to feel all alone in life. Even as adults, we can feel the loneliness of being forsaken by a loved one; but when we turn to God, He will take over and fill the emptiness in our lives. He will become that friend or family member in a greater way and God will not only fill the emptiness in our lives; but He will heal the wounds of a broken heart and allow us to be held up by His powerful, sustaining love.

I remember a time in my life, when I was recovering from a major knee operation. The duplex we were living in at the time had a second floor and our bedroom and bathroom were upstairs, so other than my doctor appointments, I had to stay up there for 3 months, while recovering because my other knee cap was loose and I couldn't take a chance of that knee dislocating on the stairs, as it had at other times.

After coming home from the hospital, my husband was allowed so much time off, so he could help me, until I was more stable; but the time came when he had to go back to work. I remember looking out my small window; all alone, while my neighbors never called or came over. I longed so much for adult conversation but it never happened; but God taught me over time, that He was always available for me. I began to realize that He was available for me 24/7 and even in the evenings, when my husband was at work. When everyone had walked away for a time; God stepped in and filled the emptiness with His presence.

It's bad enough, when we have to go through chronic pain or chronic illnesses or even the loss of a job or days filled with problems; but life can feel even lonelier when people walk away. We can either sit in our "ashes of despair" or we can make God our friend. He will never leave us or forsake us. In John 14:18, it reads..."No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm...I will come to you." God can become the greatest comfort to us, when we feel so alone in life. With God, there's never a question of whether we are good enough for Him because He has loved us since the cross.

Praise Can Free Us from the Shackles of Despair

"When you're up against a struggle, that shatters all your dreams and your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan's manifested schemes and you feel the urge within you, to submit to earthly fears; don't let the faith you're standing in seem to disappear...Praise the Lord. He can only work through those who praise Him...praise the Lord; for our God inhabits praise; praise the Lord; for the chains that seem to bind you; serve only to remind you, that they drop powerless behind you, when you praise the Lord." This is a song by the Imperials that I used to listen to so much, when I was a teenager. Tonight, as I was getting around for the evening; God was allowing me to remember the words to this song and how powerful of a song this really is.

In Acts 16:25-26, it reads..."And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."

The song and the reading for today reveals to us, the power that can come against our circumstance, just by praising God. I've had instances in my own life, when the day seemed to start out bad or I wasn't feeling well; but the moment I began to sing to God, while doing my work; I began to feel something new and alive, spring up within me. When we connect ourselves to the Most High God, through song, praise or prayer, then God is sending back His connection of love and peace.

Our circumstances can seem as though we are bound tightly with chains and shackles of despair but when we begin to sing praise to the greatness of God; then the power of His presence seems to come alive within us. Just His presence alone, will cause the chains and shackles to fall to the ground; just as they did, when Paul and Silas began to praise God in their prison cell.

When we can praise God, even though we experience the darkest moments in a day, then we are sending God a message and this is how it reads..."Dear God...I know that you are a great God, with great love. I know that your promises are sure, so I praise you, for what you are about to do in my life." When we praise God, we find ourselves standing on His promises, instead of running away from them.

As we begin a new day, we don't know what lies ahead for us. We don't know at this point, what moments we will walk into but God does and that's all we need to understand at this time. When we feel as though we are walking on shaky ground and the dark clouds seem to be covering the view of God's sunshine, then this is the time when we need to begin to praise Him. Through our praise, we will find a connection with an all-powerful God, that will take us away from the ground that seems shaky and He will place us on a solid foundation, where we can once more feel the sunshine of His presence upon us.

Farther along we'll Understand Why

Our problems can be hard enough to bare but when we wait upon God and still nothing is being accomplished, then our journey can seem even more unbearable at times. We try to trust in God but still, we can feel as though we are struggling down a difficult pathway. There are sharp stones in our way that continue to bring pain and heartache into our lives. We look around us; but yet we can't seem to feel God's presence because the pathway is so dark and we feel as though we are in a world of our own. We sit in our pathway of despair and we wonder when this journey will come to an end.

Some things aren't always easy for us to understand; but God promises that we will understand either now or in Heaven. There's a song that goes like this..."Farther along, we'll know all about it; farther along, we'll understand why...cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine; we'll understand it, in the all by and by." When we can trust God; even when we can't feel His presence, then we have truly found hope in Him and His ways. When we can see within our minds, that an end will eventually come to our suffering...when we can't see it with our eyes, then we have found renewed hope. In Exodus 2:23-25, it reads..."And it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. (24) And God heard their groaning's, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. (25) And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." The children of Israel had been in bondage for a long time, while they waited for God to set them free. God eventually did set them free; but it was in His time, not theirs. What we may see, as a good time for God to free us, may look different to Him. He has had our lives mapped out, since the day we were born and He can foresee things that we aren't always able to see.

God's ways aren't always easy to understand but this is where trust comes in. When we can know Him, in such a deep way...enough to trust His ways, then we won't worry, fear or dread the unknown. We will be able to sit within the sunshine of His presence; knowing that in His good time, He will help us to understand His ways and reasons, for the difficult moments that we experience in life.

How Our Words Affect Our Lives

How often do we recognize the words we speak and how they can affect our lives? Words can be so easily spoken but do we realize how much of an impact our words create for us? In Isaiah 55:11, it reads..."So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it." Each word that we speak is being sent out, as a messenger, to accomplish what was spoken. Whether we are speaking words that are negative or positive, they are either going to lead us to better things or allow our lives to suffer even more. Our words become a messenger that goes to God or to Satan. When we are negative, angry, bitter, etc..., we can be spewing out words that open more doors to evil, while the door to God is being shut behind us.

When we rejoice through our pain or heartache and talk to God, then God will pick up on our words and He will allow our words to prosper, in a way that will help and sustain us but when we speak words that stem from our pain, or some other circumstance, then these words are picked up by Satan, which allows him to see a moment of weakness. Once he sees words of weakness, no hope, anger, etc..., then he takes our words and attaches another problem to the message we sent him and life just keeps getting more difficult from there.

Words will either open a door to better things or take us to a pit of despair. The more we speak the negative words, the more we will continue to fall but once we recognize the error of our words and settle back and talk to God about the problem, then our words will aim towards God, which will lift us to a place of refuge...away from the circumstance that we were afflicted with.

An old hymn goes like this..."I was sinking deep in sin; far from the peaceful shore. Very deeply stained within; sinking to rise no more. Then the master of the sea heard my despairing cry and from the waters He lifted me, now safe am I. Love lifted me; His love lifted me, when nothing else could help; love lifted me. Love lifted me; His love lifted me. When nothing else could help...His love came along and lifted me."

God is only going to be able to hear our cries of despair, when our words become little messengers that aim towards Heaven. Life is never easy but when we think about the words we speak, then we will be able to clearly decide where to send our message.

Perfect Love

If we fear the difficulties in life, then how can we have perfect love towards God? Whether we are experiencing fear of a circumstance or whether we are experiencing any other type of negative feeling. We can't reveal our love in any form, when negativity is in the way. The negativity that can stem from a problem becomes like a brick wall and over time, that brick wall becomes a prison that surrounds us; where we only experience the ongoing negative feelings from our problem, like fear, depression, anxiety, frustration, etc... I John 4:18 reads..."There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

If we long for a close and personal relationship with Christ, especially during the difficult moments in life, then we need a love for Christ, which will not allow fear or any other negative feeling to take over. When these negative thoughts and feelings begin to take root from our problem, then Satan uses them as connectors, to torment us with more problems. In other words, however we react to our circumstance will either allow us to feel the peace of God or more problems, on top of what we are already experiencing.

How do we overcome these negative thoughts that come especially during trying times in our lives? I believe that talking with God on a personal level and relating with Him, will form a relationship that will keep us away from the negative feelings and thoughts that Satan is trying to overtake us with. Also, meditating on God and His word, instead of the problem, will allow us to discover God in a deeper way that will allow our love for Him to grow. The problem really begins when we aren't in a daily relationship with God, where we can tell Him our needs and listen for his response.

Our love for God will grow, as our relationship with Him grows. The more we experience His love; the less we will experience the negativity that can keep us bound up in fear and other negative thoughts. In other words, the more we concentrate on our problems, the more negative thoughts we experience but the more we relate to God; the more we experience His love and in the end, His perfect love will cast out or remove the fear, depression, anxiety, frustration, or any other negative feeling, that we may be experiencing.

Renewal

We can experience times in our lives, when we wonder, why we should continue on. The days seem to bring the same old thing. People, who live with chronic pain, go to bed with pain and may wake up with pain. Those who experience emotional or other problems can feel the same way too.

In Ecclesiastes 1: 7-10, it reads..."All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (8) All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. (9) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. (10) Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us."

How many times do we feel like we are walking down the same old pathway each day and never adventuring into something new that will lead us to better things? In the beginning of these verses; we can feel what Solomon is experiencing in his own life, through the words he has written. We can feel dissatisfied with our lives, as Solomon was. We can wake up to a new day and wonder if anything new can exist for us. We can feel like all we live for is the pain in our bodies or the jobs we work so hard at but yet we seem to feel as though we are never making any headway. We can feel as though we put so much into a day that never seems to bring anything new into our lives. We question ourselves at times and wonder if our lives will ever show anything different, than the circumstances we live with from day to day.

Could it be that we are viewing our lives with the wrong eye? Could we be so caught up in how the world's expectations are that we find ourselves a part of their thinking? After all I've been through in my life; I have come to realize that we aren't really here on this earth for ourselves. God placed us here, for the purpose He planned, from the day we were born. We may not always like what's on our plate but if we are going to remain connected to God and be that final piece that fits into the puzzle, then we must continue to look at our lives through His eyes, instead of following the crowd here on earth.

If we are going to be God's children, then our old life must turn into a new life and that means a complete lifestyle change. How we look, listen and feel; should reflect God, instead of the worldly or old way of living.

God Has a Plan

Tonight, as I was meditating on God; He brought an old hymn to my mind and a little of it goes like this..."Open my eyes Lord, that I may see Jesus". For the first time; after hearing this song, after so many years; God opened my eyes to the truth of these words. We can be so caught up in our circumstance, that our eyes are closed to everything around us, including God. When we pray and ask God to open our eyes, then we not only see Jesus but our eyes are also opened up to His truth and ways.

How can we see the pathway He has for us; when our eyes are so blinded by the problems we may be facing. I never really thought of it this way; but when we are more in tune to the stormy waves of circumstance, then we become like Peter and God is no longer clearly seen. We can be so caught up in our thoughts and our own ways, that we forget to let Jesus open our hearts and minds up to the truth that can free us.

Our circumstances can place a film or fog before our eyes, so all we feel is depression, loneliness and despair but when we cry out to God; He will touch our eyes and open them to Himself. When we begin to spend more time figuring out why this happened and why that happened, then without realizing it; we are allowing our sight to be faded out from the truth of God, while we close ourselves into the darkness of our problem.

Psalm 34:17, 19 reads..."Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to him for help, and saves him out of all his troubles...The good man does not escape all troubles...he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one." We will never be able to escape the problems of this world but God does give us a way out of them, if we only are willing to open our eyes up to His ways, instead of the pathway that leads to despair.

Hidden Treasures

Do we seek God's knowledge and understanding, as though it's a hidden treasure or do we try to figure God out, in an instant on our own? In Proverbs 2:3-5, it reads..."Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; (4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; (5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."

While going through a trying time in our lives, we can become frustrated and not always understand why this is happening or why that is happening. Once we've passed the stage of frustration, we tend to work towards figuring God out, instead of looking directly to Him for the wisdom and knowledge that can free our minds of frustration. In verse 3, it says "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge", in other words, do we use our hearts, in a way that weeps for the understanding of God?

Let's say that someone gave us a treasure map and the map gave us the directions and details that we would need to find a hidden treasure but yet we just talked about it and never took the map and went into action; would we find the treasure? I believe that the more we seek for God's wisdom; the more He will open His ways and purpose to us; after all, that's a part of following after God. We can pray and ask God for guidance but what are we doing, to show God that we long for what we've prayed for? When God sees that we are searching and seeking for His answers, then He will lead us down the road, where we will be able to discover His ways.

I never use to be a person that even liked to read; let alone seek for God's wisdom but I have found, that the more I seek...the more I find and that has allowed my relationship with God to become stronger. God holds all the answers to our problems within His Almighty hands; all we have to do is go and seek them out.

The first part of verse 5 says..."Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord," When we seek for the answers that we are searching for, with all our hearts, we not only find the answers but we find a closer connection to God because when we find the answers, we've also found His presence surrounding us. This teaches us to have a healthy fear of His ways, instead of trying to figure life out on our own.

Trust...a Protective Shelter

As I was getting around for this evening, this is the song that God brought to my heart..." You are my hiding place, You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance, whenever I am afraid; I will trust in you...I will trust in You. Let the weak say I am strong, in the strength of the Lord."

God has a way of ministering to our souls when we're hurting, as though we have walked into a safe shelter; away from the storm. He ministers to us, through songs and verses from his word that become strong and full of deliverance to our hurting hearts. It's only through our weakness, that we are made stronger, so we can become more like Him.

In Psalm 32:7, it reads..."Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah" When we place our trust in God; it's as if we have stepped fully into a loving presence that lifts us away from the troubles of this life; to bring peace and calmness to our hurting souls.

As I was thinking about this song and verse tonight; an illustration came to my mind. When the cold winter months come on; our bodies can't weather the cold temperatures, so we need to place on a coat, hat and gloves. These things protect us from the elements, so that no harm comes to our bodies. In a similar way, when we are facing difficult and trying moments in our lives and we place our trust in God; then it's as if we have walked into a protective shelter, where we are protected from the elements of evil around us.

As we begin a new work week...Monday's can seem difficult, especially when a person is going through a difficult moment already; but remember, that when we place ourselves into the hands of God, through a heart of trust, even when we feel as though we are walking with blind faith; God will surround us with songs of deliverance and He will protect us; no matter what we may be facing.

God Replenishes Our Loss

The things that we give up in this life may allow us to feel as though we have lost life itself. It seems as though we all grow up with dreams of doing this or being that and then something comes into our life, like an illness or some other circumstance and before we know it; we've lost the desire of our heart.

In a worldly way; we would see total defeat through these moments but I truly believe, that when God takes something out of our lives; it's so He can give us more of Himself. We need to remember, that we are only on this earth for a short time; as though we are just staying in a motel, until God is finished and ready for His children to come home; so we need to concentrate on where we are headed eternally, instead of where we are just heading for the moment. Matthew 16:25-26 reads..."For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Being a child of God means real commitment. It's so easy to say..."I love you Jesus", when everything is going fine; but do we still feel that great love for Him, when are lives are experiencing overwhelming moments of pain and heartache? When we go down another road in life on our own, to avoid these moments, then this road may also lead us further away from God. This may be a road, where we turn inwardly and become more acquainted with our suffering, instead of God and the purpose He has for our lives.

If we are to discover the true purpose God has for us, then that may mean a pathway of pain or heartache. In my own life; I watched other children that were around my age, enjoy life. While other kids were enjoying the life, that allowed them to run and jump and have a good time; I spent a lot of my time in a hospital bed. For the longest time, it was hard for me to understand why other children got to enjoy life, when I just sat in my own world of disability but as I became more deeply connected with God; I began to see His true purpose for my life and that brought a peace, that I hadn't had for a long time.

We are all the same in God's eyes and He loves all of us the same but this can also make it hard to sometimes understand why other people have an easier life than others. Today, I was looking at a beautiful picture of a strawberry, which I'm not allowed to eat, on a special kidney diet that my doctor has me on. It's amazing how much we take something, like a strawberry for granted, until we can't enjoy them anymore but as I was sitting and talking with my husband; God began to show me something. It was as if He was trying to relay to me, that I may not be able to enjoy a strawberry; but I can still see the beautiful bright red color of the berry. He was also revealing to me, that when we lose one thing in this life; it's so we can appreciate something else. In other words; we lose something, to find something deeper in our lives.

As Christians we may lose moments of joy, due to pain or we may lose someone close to us or we may be confined to a wheelchair and have lost the use of our legs. No matter what we have lost...God longs to give us something better in its place and that's Him.

A God that Prevails

Today, I sat for a while outside, while my husband mowed the yard. As I was looking around; I began to notice how most of the leaf buds were open on our trees. As I was looking at them; God was reminding me of something. In the fall, we sit and watch as the leaves on the trees turn color and begin to die and fall to the ground. All winter we see bare trees, that appear to be dead but really aren't. Then spring comes, as we see new buds appear on each limb of the tree and before we know it; the buds turn into bright green leaves, as new life begins once more. As I was thinking about this; God was reminding me of II Corinthians 5:17, which

reads..."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This verse is referring to the time, when we turn away from the world or the old life, to find a new life in God. In a similar way; the moments that seem old and drab in our lives can be made new through God too. Just as the old leaves die, to make room for the new leaves in the spring; God works in our lives to remove the old flaws, so there is more room for Him to work and create more of Himself in us.

The winter months of pain or heartache can allow us to feel as though the springtime of new growth will never come but one thing we must remember; God cannot be a defeated God. Even though the season of new growth is a process that we must go through; God knows just the right moment for the buds to appear. He knows our hearts and He knows when we are strong enough to handle the new growth that He desires for our lives; just as He knows the right time for the tree to bare leaves.

The moments of pain and heartache can be a constant reminder that we will never be able to experience newness but we must keep reminding ourselves, that God isn't a God that fails; but instead, He's a God that prevails. Satan loves to whisper defeat in our ears but we must remain focused on the truth that God gives us in His word; for it's His truth that will always keep our minds set free.

Reaching Out Through Despair

What is the best cure for a person who is going through day to day pain or some other difficult circumstance? How about reaching out to someone else in need? When we can lay our life to the side, so that someone else can be encouraged, then we are doing 2 things. First, we are giving God room to work in our own lives, while we reach out to help someone else. The second thing is; that we are allowing someone that may be going through pain or heartache, to see Jesus, through the love and sacrifice we show them. When a person sees that we are going through our own trying circumstance; but yet we can rise above our own pain to help them, then they are experiencing a love that they may have never experienced before.

One of my favorite verses is found in John 15:13, which reads..."Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Whenever I read this verse, this is what comes to my mind. I see a young boy and girl walking down a sidewalk. As they walk; a huge mud puddle appears before them. The young boy could say to the girl; you will just have to walk through the puddle of water because if I lay in that puddle of water, then I will get my clothes dirty but instead; when a heart of compassion is felt, the boy lies across the puddle of water and allows the girl to walk over him. In a similar way; when we are more concerned about our own pain, that we can't be there for someone else who is experiencing similar problems, then are we showing them the love of Jesus?

Through Jesus Christ; we have the power to rise above our problems. The problem may still be there but when we reach out to someone else; even if it's just to encourage them, then we are giving God the space He needs to work with our needs, while the other person is seeing Jesus, through the sacrifice we make.

Hope...a Pathway that Never Ends

Hope is found in God but it's also found, in knowing that God has control over everything in our lives. If He allows us to walk down a difficult pathway, for a reason we don't always understand, then He has the power to help us walk away from this pathway and make all things new in our lives once more. In Psalm 71:20-21, it reads..."Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. (21) Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side."

When we are going through difficult moments in our lives; we also need to know that there is a way out. We need to feel hope, that we won't remain in despair forever and these verses are filled with hope. Even though God has allowed us to walk through a circumstance in our life; just as He allowed us to walk through these moments; He also has the same power to bring us out of the depths of despair because He holds the main control stick for our lives in His hands.

Satan works at convincing us that we will always remain in despair, as though this is our lot in life. We need to remember that even though Satan afflicts us; God still remains the greatest. God may be allowing these moments to strengthen us and bring us closer to Him but when He's finished; He will walk us out of these moments.

I remember the moments, when I was going through depression, from the memory of the sexual abuse that was brought on me as a child. I remember sitting in counseling and looking at the floor, as though this was going to be my lot in life. Little did I know that God was using these moments, to not only repair my heart but also give me a different heart that could relate to others who have gone through a similar situation? I now sit here...15 years later and as I remember those painful moments; I also see how God was truly faithful in my life. At the time, when I had lost all hope; God repaired what had been broken and has given me a greater heart for Him and for others who walk down difficult pathways too.

You may be going through chronic pain, counseling, a broken marriage, a dysfunctional relationship or some other difficult moment in your life but I want you to know, that this is not your lot in life because the God that rescued me, is the same God for you too. When He has accomplished His will for your life, then He will lead you to a better pathway. Just remember...while you are waiting for Him to do this; He is close by...holding your hand, to reassure you, that He will bring you out, onto a greater pathway with Him. Instead of giving up on hope; cling to the anchor of hope, which is Jesus Christ.

Have We Shut the Door to Hope?

Today, I would like to share 2 very special Bible verses with you that have been of great encouragement in my own life. They are found in Psalm 18:28-29, which reads..."For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. (29) For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall." Whenever I read these 2 verses, this is what comes to my thoughts. Here is a person, who is walking down a dark and lonely pathway. Maybe they are going through chronic pain or maybe they have lost a job or maybe they have lost someone close to them. Whatever the problem may be; they aren't able to find even a glimpse of light that will help them to press on in life, until they cry out to God for help. Once they begin to cry out for God's help; He comes and lights the candle that can help them to see the pathway more clearly. Not only does God brighten their pathway; but He also gives them a renewed strength, that allows them to run through the circumstance in their life, instead of allowing the problem to surround them. Finally, after running through the circumstance; they find that God has given them strength that they could never have known before; as God allows them to leap over the wall that was built through time, by each struggle they faced.

We can feel like life is so far gone, that God or anyone else can't help us break through the barriers of pain and heartache; but when God hears our cries of despair, then He realizes that one of His children is in need of His help, so He reaches down and touches us with His strength, so we can overcome the painful moments we've been going through.

When hope begins to leave us; it's not because God doesn't long to help us; instead, it may be that we have shut the door, so He can't come in and give us all He longs to give us. We see hope once more in God, when we allow the power of Christ to rest upon us.

God Remains Faithful through the Storm

How do we find God in the midst of pain? Pain can take us to a place that seems so dark and alone. It can allow us to feel its symptoms so deep, that we can't seem to have our minds on anything else but the pain.

The only way I discovered to find God, while hurting so deeply, is found in Matthew 14:36, which reads..."Father, Father, "he said," everything is possible for you. Take away this cup from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." God can be found in the depth of our pain, when we show Him, through a heart of belief, that we trust Him; for His will to be done. Even as Jesus prayed this prayer, before moments of torment and pain; all He desired, was for His Father's will to be done. Jesus knew that even if God didn't take the cup of suffering away from Him; that His Father could be found through a sustaining power.

I think that there are times when we are so deeply in pain; whether it be physical pain or deep pain of the heart, that we become desperate for God to take the pain away. Even though He may not always remove the cup of suffering away from us; He still can be found, through the cries of our hearts; as He reaches back to hold us in His loving and sustaining arms.

Pain can take our thoughts to places that seem out of control; just as if we are out on a raging sea; but we must remember that Jesus is the master of the sea. He holds the control stick in His hand; that allows us to find sustainment and comfort, until the storm of pain passes by. Once we are willing to go to God and let Him take the control, for which He already has, then we will find His presence in the midst of our storm of pain. If we could just take our thoughts away from the stormy sea and allow His presence to be seen, as He gently walks across the water to us, then we could have the reassurance that everything will be fine.

My prayer is that God will be found in the midst of whatever storm you are facing today! Just remember to look for the light of His presence, instead of the darkness of your pain!

Replacing Our Dreams for His Desires

We all grow up with dreams and desires of who and what we want to become. As young girls; we talk about how many children we are going to have and dream of growing old with grandchildren but this is not what God had in store for my life.

As I grew up into a young woman; I married a man that God definitely knew I would need. It's so amazing how God can see way down the road; before we arrive to that place in time. Sometimes we get so engulfed into why this didn't happen and why that didn't happen, that we miss out on how He made the way for it to happen.

Later in time; was when I knew that I wouldn't be able to have children. Yes, I could have adopted but God never opened those pathways, to me and my husband. For the longest time; I dreaded Mother's Day. While other new mother's my age were celebrating; I felt as though I was grieving but as time went by; I began to discover that God doesn't leave the empty voids in our lives empty. I learned that whatever He doesn't allow; it's only because He has something else to put in its place.

My life always seemed to be like blind faith. As I walked through the pains and heartaches in my life; I felt as though I was feeling my way through the dark, until I began to see the light, that eventually lead me to the purpose, that God had for me. As each painful moment came into my life, and each loving desire left; God was replenishing me with more of Himself.

We all face disappointments in life and sometimes our dreams don't lead us to where we'd like to be but we need to remember that when we give our life to God; that His decisions should reveal the true purpose He has for our lives.

Many years have brought pain and heartache into my life; but I can truly say, that I have found God's purpose for my life and that is to serve Him. I realize, that as I was being drained of every dream and desire, that I had longed for in my life; that God had a plan and that was to give me a different heart...a heart that could feel the pain of another person because of the pain I had experienced in my own life.

If you have had loss in your life or you are living with the same old chronic pain every day; just remember that God may be removing your dreams and desires, so that He can replenish you, with the purpose He has dreamed for you, since the day He created you!

Extending Our Relationship with God

The beginning of a relationship with God shouldn't stop at the moment when we accept Him into our hearts. This is a time when a transition should be taking place in our lives, as the old man slowly leaves and is replaced with the new man. If we aren't nourishing ourselves on the word of God each day and meditating on His presence, then we won't become deeply rooted in Him and when the first storm arrives, we will find it harder to weather the storm. Colossians 2:6,7 reads...As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Today, as my husband was helping me to plant a few flowers; I was looking at all the roots it takes to support the plant. If there were no roots, then the plant would have no way of taking in the nourishment it needs to become stronger. In a similar way; when we don't allow new roots of growth into our lives, through the lessons we learn, along with a good relationship with God, then we will just become dormant and wither away. Once new growth begins and more roots begin to sprout from others already formed, then we will be able to drink in more of God's wisdom and presence, so that we can stand and become even stronger through God.

There's a part in verse 7 that says..."Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith..." Once we gain the roots of support, so we can remain strong in God, then we will also find that our relationship will grow with God. A relationship is only formed, when 2 converse with each other. If we long to remain strong, as we walk down difficult pathways in life, then we need His Spirit; surging through all of our roots. We need a connection that will allow us to feel His strength, so we always remain strong in Him.

Time Brings Beauty

Today, I went out of the house for a while with my husband. We went to purchase a hanging plant and some herb plants and as I was looking around at all the beautiful colors of flowers; God was taking my mind back to when the plants first began to grow. He was reminding me, that the plants didn't always look beautiful and vibrant with color. They began from a seed and grew into green plants that over time produced an array of color. In Ecclesiastes 3:11a, it reads..."He hath made everything beautiful in his time..." The plants we see now, that are filled with colorful blossoms didn't just become instantly beautiful. They went through a process of growth and struggle, to come to the place where they could blossom and bloom. In a similar way; God has a time frame of events that needs to take place, before we can blossom and bloom for Him.

As Christians; we need to go through a process, where our old life can be made new through Christ Jesus. As we try to remain focused on God; we may begin to feel root bound or we may feel as though the weeds of circumstance are trying to choke us but as the flowering plant remains focused on the sun, so it too can grow tall and strong; we need to keep our focus on the Son of God, so that He can keep the weed infested circumstances away from us.

We can feel as though we will never be able to bloom and become beautiful in God's eyes but as long as we are flourishing; God will be there to help us mature into the beautiful person, for which He purposed us to be. As we learn and grow; God will allow us to show forth His beauty to those around us.

We can become discouraged at times, when we see others maturing and blooming at a much faster pace but if we dwell on those around us, instead of focusing on God, then we will never come to the place, where God can reveal His true purpose for our lives.

Exchanging Our Strength for His

I wonder where we get the idea that we have more strength than God. If we do, then why did Jesus need to go to the cross? Why is there even a God?

Today, I was thinking about the moments in my own past, when I would either try to draw strength out of my problem or myself. We as humans tend to place this tough, hard shield before us, as we try to remain strong through whatever we may be going through for the moment but where does that take us? Do we truly find that our own strength can save us from the problem? I think that most of the time; we end up feeling totally drained instead. Psalm 27:13-14 says..."I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

How many times do we tell ourselves..."if it hadn't been for God helping me, then I don't know where I'd be today"? We see instances in our lives, when a circumstance that we were facing could have gone worse. These are the moments, when God's strength becomes a shield, to prevent the problem from becoming something much greater. Why do we grow impatient with God and feel that we must get through our situation right now? We don't always understand God's ways but He has a time frame in everything He longs to accomplish in our lives and when we try to go on our own strength, instead of waiting for God's to kick in, then we feel the symptoms of the problem increase, until we fall before God...totally drained; begging for His help.

I'm learning more and more, that we don't have any strength. The strength we gain is only from God. When we begin to draw on our own make shift strength; then we find that all we do is lose complete strength and fall but when we wait for God's strength to kick in; then we find that we are able to leap above despair and discover the pathway that He longs for us to enter.

Reflecting on God's Presence

Where are our thoughts today? Are they on our pain? Are they on our job situation? Are they on a need in our life, that doesn't seem to be heading anywhere but down a different pathway? I believe that our thoughts have to come from a source, instead of our own self. We can't just sit and say..."what shall I think about today?" Our thoughts have to come from either God or from a source of evil. What causes us to think negative or positive thoughts? I believe that our thoughts come from the source of who we are connected to each day. If we are closely connected to God, then our thoughts will be positive thoughts, that produce good things in our lives but when we are dwelling on a problem in our life, then a door will be opened to evil and its thoughts. Isaiah 26:3-4 reads..."He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength."

If we aren't feeling peace and a settled back feeling, that everything will be ok in our lives, then maybe it's because our minds are more connected to our problems, which opens a door to Satan. The verse above says..."He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!"

How do we keep our thoughts continually on God? We can remain focused on God, when we talk with God, rather than talking about our problem...by reading verses that relate to our problem, instead of trying to figure out the problem...by meditating on God and His greatness, instead of meditating on the problem.

We all struggle day to day with our thoughts but if we can remember to keep our thoughts focused on the power, strength and greatness of God, then our thoughts will be turned away from the problem and we will be able to hear and respond to the help, that God so freely offers us. The more we find ourselves focused on God during our day; the more we will feel His loving peace.

Never Abandoned

No matter what we go through in life; when we truly believe in God and all He stands for; He will always be there for us. We can feel totally stripped of everything in our life and feel as though we are so alone in our pain and heartache but as long as we know Jesus...He remains there with us. In I Peter 1: 24-25, it says..."For all flesh is as the grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

There may be times when we feel like life just keeps knocking us down, with one problem after another. We can feel as though God has even walked away with our problems, but this is not true. No matter what may wither or fall away in our lives; as long as we have Jesus living within our hearts, He will always remain.

As the warmth of the spring and summer months are not allowing the grass to grow and become green; there is a time when the grass must be mowed or cut back but even though the top of each grass blade is cut off; the grass still remains and continues to grow. We can feel like the grass, as we see certain things cut out of our lives. We can wonder if we will have the strength to continue to grow and produce better things for God but we must remember this...no matter what Satan may strip from our lives, whether it be related to our health or whether it be a death in the family or whether we lose our job; God will remain and He will help us to pick up the broken pieces and He will even allow our lives to be conformed into better people for Him, as He mends each broken piece in our lives.

When the pieces of life are broken and they lay shattered before us; it's not always easy to see life in a better way but if we allow God to pick up the shattered pieces, then He will take them and mold them back into something even greater for Him. So many times, we are too busy looking at what's been broken, that we cling to the shattered pieces, instead of allowing God to have them and this just keeps us broken and in despair, while we continually view the shattered pieces in our hands.

No matter what has been taken from us and no matter what we've been through; nothing can separate us from the love and power of Almighty God. We need to just allow God to pick up what's been broken and trust Him, to place each piece in place, so we can press on with life.

Hopelessness Begins When We Make Our Problems Larger Than God

Today has been a very windy day, in our area of Washington State! We've had wind gusts of around 50 mph. This morning, as I was looking out our patio door; I could feel the power, as the wind blew through each tree in our yard. I began to realize how these gusts of wind are only a symbol or ounce of the power that comes forth from Almighty God.

We may experience God's presence, as we go through different circumstances in our lives but even these moments are only displaying a certain amount of God's true power. Jeremiah 10:12-13 reads..."He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his direction. (13) When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures."

Our daily problems can translate a message to ourselves of hopelessness. Hopelessness is seen, when the problem appears to be more powerful than God but when we stop and look, listen and think about the extent of God's power, then our circumstance begins to shrink and become not as clear to us; in comparison to what God stands for.

God is the One who holds the main control stick within His almighty hand, for all of creation. He can either cause the stars to dance in the sky or with one blink of His eye; His power can cause a star to fall. He can blow upon the earth and design different weather patterns in each part of the world. He can listen to many prayers that go into the Heavens and know how to answer each one at the same time. God can paint a sunset in one sky, while He's allowing the sun to rise on another part of the earth.

I believe that we become overwhelmed by our problems because we have studied every detail that surrounds the problem, until we have finally made the problem more powerful than God. If we were to study the power of God; the way we study our circumstances, then we would find that God's power would be clearly seen and felt in our lives, while the circumstance begins to fade out of view.

If we are going to experience the true power of God; we must let His power reign above the problem. When we take the time to look around us and experience a sense of God's power and presence, then we will once more find renewed hope in our lives again!

A New Day with New Mercies

As we begin a new week, there are those who are ready to jump into another week of work or whatever needs to be done but then there are others who feel discouraged because of pain or some other struggle they are facing in their life right now. They feel as though the rope they once hung onto in life is now a string, which is about to give way. No matter what we are facing, we have the hope that God's mercies make each day new.

I looked up the meaning of the word "mercies" and this is what I read...new and full of compassion, so when God offers new mercies for each day, then we know that He will always give us a new beginning. Lamentations 3:22-23 reads..."It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." When we've experienced a bad day or week, we have the hope through God, that each day can become something brand new. Even though we may get up each day with pain or some other struggle, we have the hope that God will allow our yesterdays to be placed behind us, so new days can spring forth.

In my own life, I see it like this...the day before may have been dark and gloomy but as God pulls down the shades over this earth at night; He is working while we sleep, to make a brand new day for each of us. We may still face pain or the struggle we faced the day before but God can give us a new day; to see our situation in a better light. Our yesterdays may have brought darkness into our life but God's mercies or compassion upon His people never ends. He is willing and able to give us a new view on our situation that will help us to cling to Him, instead of the problem.

There may be times when we feel like we aren't making it through our circumstance but because of His everlasting mercies, we are not consumed by the hand of the enemy because God is a god that prevails and when we trust Him; then we also prevail. God's faithfulness is greater than any problem; no matter how large the problem may appear to us. We need to remember that if Jesus went to the cross for us and went through such a brutal death, then why would He forsake us now?

An old hymn came to me recently and it says..."Great is thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not; thy compassions they fail not; as thou has been thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness...great is thy faithfulness; morning my morning new mercies I see. All I have needed, thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness; Lord unto me." He didn't bring us this far to leave us; otherwise He would be a defeated God, so remember...during the moments of hopelessness, that God will bring you another new day...filled with His loving compassion.

God's Presence through Nature

Today, the rain had been coming down at times, while at other times the sun shone through the rain, like jewels sparkling in midair. It felt like a day of refreshment, as God was watering everything around us. Just before dinner, I happen to look out the door and there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky. Tonight, as I was thinking about the rainbow I had seen; my thoughts were going back to the days of Noah. Genesis 9:12-15 reads..."And God said, this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: (13) I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth. (14) And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: (15) And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh."

As Noah walked out of the ark; he saw that all human existence was gone, but God made a reassuring promise to Noah through the rainbow. The rainbow not only became a symbol that God would never bring destruction upon the earth again but God used the rainbow as a sign, that He would always keep His promises to us.
Whenever I see a rainbow, like tonight; my mind not only goes back to the time of Noah and the promises that God made to him but the rainbow becomes a reminder to me, that God is communicating with me for the moment and He's telling me that everything is going to be ok. This rainbow became special to my heart tonight, as I have been living with a lot of pain, these past few days. As I viewed the rainbow; it seemed to bring a deeper connection between me and God; as I felt His spirit reassuring me that He would always be here with me.

Sometimes we can be traveling down a long and difficult pathway and we need a word of reassurance that everything is going to be ok. Whether we feel the wind upon our faces or whether we feel the warmth of God's sunshine upon us or whether we see a rainbow in the sky; I believe that these are the moments, when God is relaying His presence to us. Whenever we are in need of His presence; all we have to do is look around us and we will find Him everywhere!

Where Do Our Words Take Us?

Words become so easy and available to us but where do our words take us? Are they words that go out into the air; either to fall to the ground or spin around us in space or are they words that are followed by some form of action that can allow us to discover God in a greater way?

Today I would like to read Philippian 4:13 because we all seem to know this verse and verses like these can be easily recited but what do we discover from the words, to help us in our daily lives? Philippians 4:13 reads..." I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." These words are a great example of what I was just talking about. The verse is saying that we can do all things through our Christ Jesus, who gives us His strength to do them but are we truly experiencing His strength or the problem, after we read these words?

The words in this verse tell us that we can do all things but do our lives show belief, through what we speak? Isn't it amazing how we discover a new verse and we say...Oh wow...this is great...just what I was looking for but do we just have a party with the words or do we invite the words to come alive within us? We know that we can do all things through Christ but do our lives show that Christ is doing His all for us, while we are going through a bad day of pain or some other problem? Do we carry the words with us, until we hit a wall of circumstance; where we find ourselves out of control, instead of using the words that can bring hope back into our lives? The last part of Philippians 4:13 says..."through Christ which strengtheneth me." Are we doing everything to help ourselves, through the strength that God can give us or are we trying to lean on ourselves and the problem? We don't know the answers to our needs; otherwise we wouldn't need a God to help us and the problem isn't going to take us anywhere but further down, so we need to refresh ourselves and say...I can only do everything in my life because Christ is there to strengthen me and help me.

The way we use God's word, will either allow our words to float around us or come alive within us. Today, I pray that we will not only know God's word but that we will allow these tools of wisdom, that He's given us, to work deep within our lives!

Suffering for a Season

When we can find renewed hope, while facing a difficult situation; we begin to see the light of God's presence, radiating onto our pathway. If we enjoy His presence of light, here on earth; just think of the moments that await us, when we get to Heaven. When we look into the face of Jesus; every problem we went through will be suddenly erased from our life and all we will feel is the fullness of His presence.

Heaven will become a place of eternal refuge to all that have suffered for the cause of Christ. There will come a time when evil won't even be able to knock on Heaven's door and only God's goodness will surround us for eternity.

We can easily get discouraged, while we are living in this imperfect world but if we can only keep Heaven in view, then we will always have something to aim for.

To encourage you today, I would like to share a poem, that was published in my first book..."You Are Not Alone In A Lonely World" and the poem is titled..."Meeting An Old Friend For The First Time"..."I remember the days when I would sing to you, my loneliness would soon go away; or just to tell you all my feelings, would lift my heavy load and make a better day. I knew you were always with me, when I would cry to you in pain; that's when I felt your arms around me, letting me know you were restoring me back again. And when I saw the little things, that you would always do; it was a reminder that you loved me, and that I loved you, too! And now when we meet for the very first time, your face I will finally see; I will meet the One who was always my friend; even if I didn't know it was meant to be. As I approach you Lord, my lifetime friend, I realize I have no pain, I also feel the loneliness leave, as I feel a new strength in my life gain. Your arms I felt around me, are now very real; your touch that drew me to your side, I can once more feel. My Friend, as you reach for my hand...I can't describe what I'm feeling, as we begin to walk; sweet and gentle words surround me, as I listen to you talk. And now as you lead me to a beautiful place, I think back to the things you always would do; and now you want us to be friends forever, in this home you've built brand new. Happy tears began to flow...realizing the pain and loneliness we shared, would never more be; I then turned to my Friend with a great big smile, and said, "I love you Jesus, thanks for choosing me"!

Our circumstances can take us to a place where all we feel, see and experience is defeat but for the one who places their life into the hand of God; there will come a time, when we will meet the friend that always stood beside us, even when we didn't realize it at the time.

May you truly experience the depth of God's love today and know that even if you stand alone in your pain and heartache here on earth, that there is a Friend, who longs to share these moments with you, until the time comes when you can be with Him forever and that Friend is Jesus!

A Spiritual Cleansing

Times of trial can allow us to feel totally drained of life itself. Chronic pain may soak up life, that once use to be so alive and heartache can bring us so low, that we feel like we can't even stand to our feet at times. These are the moments when we need to take some time and allow God to give us a spiritual cleansing.

We need to allow God to breathe down upon us and give us the life that we lost, while walking down difficult pathways in life. His spirit can heal the parts within us that have been wounded or broken, so we can become more in tune with Him. We need a rejuvenation that will allow us to be able to hear Him speak to our spirits once more, so all there is within us, is His presence with ours, instead of our presence with the problem.

God's breath upon us will react like a magnet and draw out the dark moments that have lingered behind and have kept us wounded. Once God's breath has entered our lives; His perfect spirit will remove all of the toxins of darkness and replace them with a perfect peace that will allow our spirits to be at rest with Him. I believe that when God works with a wounded spirit; He doesn't just repair the heart and soul but I believe that He replaces the brokenness with a brand new part that will allow us to function in an even greater way.

The question is...how do we allow God's breath to enter our spirit? I believe His presence comes, when we meditate on Him and allow ourselves to be taken away from the problems that surround us. We need to find a quiet place, where only God's presence can meet ours. When we turn to Him alone; I know, through my own experiences, that He will come to us and He will minister to us, with words of healing and peace.

I wrote a poem; quite some time ago, that goes along with what I just wrote and it goes like this..."Breathe on me, "O Spirit", to heal every hurting part; so that my life can be in tune with you, so you can speak to my heart. So nothing is there but you and me, to have your perfect peace; as the dark places in my heart, pull away in sweet release. Then as your breath pulls away; the darkness shall with it go and my heart shall be brand new, with more love than I could ever know!"

A Puzzle Piece of God's Plan

Are there times when we feel small in the sight of God? Our circumstances can allow us to feel as though we are only here to serve our problems but this is not true. No matter who we are or no matter what we do; God sees each of us in the same way. Philemon...verse 16 says..."Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?"

Just because we aren't a preacher, author, or teacher, etc...,that doesn't mean that God sees us as something small in His eyes. Sad to say...the world has placed people in categories that make us feel greater or smaller in life. We need to remember that God sees in a different realm...a Heavenly realm. When we are obeying God and serving Him, for the purpose He created us to become, then we are already great in His eyes.

I believe that when we were born; God placed a piece of His plan within all us; as though we had been handed a piece of a great big puzzle. We all have a different shape or purpose and in order for His plan to be accomplished, we need to take the piece that He has given us and use it for His honor and glory. When we try to place a piece of the puzzle into His plan that He never gave us, then the picture will not be able to be seen clearly. Some of us may feel like we've been given a smaller piece of the puzzle, while others seem to have a larger piece but I don't believe that this is the way God sees it. All He longs for us to do; is to take the piece we've been given and allow it to be placed in His plan, for which He purposed it to be.

We can be living with chronic pain or we can be disabled in some way or maybe we just don't feel important to God. We may feel this way and the world may see our lives in this way but God doesn't. Each piece of the puzzle makes a great difference to God because if even a small piece of the puzzle is missing, then His plan cannot become complete. No matter what you do; as long as you are walking in the will of God, then you are very special to Him.

Pressing On for God's best

God has given us all a purpose in life. Circumstances can become a barrier that gets in the way, to either slow us down or stop us from reaching the destination that God has for us to find. The journey may get more difficult and the pace may slow down, due to what we are going through but if we want to find the true purpose for our lives; we must continue to travel on. Hebrews 10:36 reads..."You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised."

How many times do we want to stop in the middle of the pathway and lean on the barrier of circumstance; thinking that this will prevent us from experiencing more pain in our lives. The only thing bad about this; is that we end up getting to know the circumstance more than God's purpose for our lives.

God never said the road would be an easy road to travel on but He did say that if we patiently continue on, doing His will for our lives, then we would find the purpose that He longs for us to discover. We may be wounded on the journey and we may find our journey to be a struggle but that's only because Satan is trying to slow us down, so we will get discouraged, as he attempts to keep us from reaching the place that God has for us.

When we find the journey becomes more difficult, than the desire to find God's purpose for our lives; we need to use Isaiah 26:3,4 as a means of finishing the journey...which reads..."He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength." So when the circumstance seems to outweigh the purpose for our lives; we need to trust God and continually focus our attention on Him. He knows where we are heading and He knows why He's taking us on this journey, so we need to place our trust in Him, instead of thinking about everything that's happening around us. When we say...Lord, I'm tired and I'm struggling to make it but yet I will trust you to see me through, then we will automatically be filled with His strength and peace. The strength He gives us, will help us to keep traveling on and the peace will keep our thoughts quiet, so that we can hear His voice, instead of what the circumstance is telling us.

We all have our struggles in life and some of the barriers we run into can seem more powerful, than the desire we have to follow Jesus but if we are going to discover the purpose He has for our lives; we must continue the journey, until He has taken us, to where our journey ends with Him.

Anchored to the Haven of Rest

A favorite hymn of mine goes like this..."I've anchored my soul in the haven of rest; I won't sail the wild seas anymore. The tempest may sweep; over the wild and stormy deep; but with Jesus I am safe evermore." Do we really know what it's like to enter the haven of rest? In my own life, I've pictured it like this...it's as if I'm out in a boat and the stormy circumstances are surrounding me. The waves of trial begin to feel overpowering, as they stand so tall before my face but when I cry out for help; within a moments time; God allows me to view a haven that appears calming to my tired soul. As I cry out to God, He allows me to drift closer, until He takes hold of me, as a strong anchor, where I am safe from the storm.

Standing in the presence of God, is like being drawn into a safe haven, where God's almighty wings of love surround us. No matter how high the waves climb around us, His presence shelters us and keeps us safe, until the storm ceases. When we walk into the presence of the highest God, the storm can do whatever it wants around us but while we are sheltered in the presence of God, we have found a place, where we will always be safe.

As we all begin a new day, we may be facing uncertainties in our lives. We may be starting a new job or maybe we have a doctor's appointment or we are going through certain tests or surgery. Maybe we are just tired of walking into a new day, of old pain and heartache. Whatever we may be facing, we don't have to stand out in the storm, when there is a safe haven prepared for us. All we need to do is cry out to God and admit that His strength is much greater than the weakness we are facing and when we do; He will grab hold of us and shelter us within His presence, until the storm passes by. We need to look beyond the wind and waves of trial, for the haven of rest, which is found in Jesus Christ!

Self-Blame...a Wallowing Hole of Despair

A place of self-blame can become like a hole, where we end up wallowing in our mistakes. When we sin; we need to admit our faults and mistakes before God but when we allow the blame to be left behind, then Satan uses this as one of his strategies, to keep us from moving forward in our lives. I John 3:20 reads..."For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

When we were first formed within the Master's hand; God designed our hearts, so we could identify with good and evil. Our hearts rejoice, when we are living a pure life but when we have fallen away; the heart begins to send a signal to us, that we have made a mistake in our lives. This is the time, when we want to admit the fault and lay it at the feet of Jesus but when we have given the mistake over to Him; He wants us to press on and acknowledge that this is the reason He died; to save us from these moments when we fall.

When we lay our mistakes at the feet of Jesus; but yet we continue to sit within self-blame, then we have missed out, on all that Jesus died for and because we keep the sin or mistake alive; we find ourselves wallowing deep within the blame, where we remain stuck in the mire and bog of evil and despair. God wants us to get our lives right with Him and then shake the dust of blame off of us, so we can press on and continue on the journey, that He has lain before us.

The verse above also states that God is greater than the heart. God has allowed the heart to be used as an alert system, to warn us of evil in our lives. Once we acknowledge and admit to our fault, then the alert system of our heart should be turned off, so we can concentrate on what's ahead of us. God has already made a way for the heart to go back to a state of peace but we must allow His power to become greater than the power of evil. If Satan can keep us in the bog and mire of despair, then he knows that he can attack us even more.

The Greatest Companion through Adversity

We can be going through a circumstance that allows us to feel as though we are in a world of our own. We can feel as though no one cares and all we have for a friend is the problems we face each day. In Psalm 142:4-5, 7 it reads..."I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. (5) I cried unto thee, O Lord; I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. (7) bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise they name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me."

Our disability, chronic pain or some other need may cause us to feel as though we have been abandoned by everyone around us. People don't always understand the reasons behind our circumstance, so they find it easier to walk away. As Christians, we don't have to feel abandoned and alone in despair. In the verses above, David is crying out to God; saying that everything had failed and there was no one who could understand what he was going through but then David's spirits began to pick up, as he begins to acknowledge God as his place of refuge and hope. From there, David seeks God's way out of His prison of despair; that he may be able to praise God for His wondrous works. What a great example of coping with despair!

We can feel so alone in our pain and heartache, that we forget that Jesus can become the greatest friend to talk to and share our feelings with, throughout our day. We need to ask ourselves this question..."would we rather have friends; just to say that we have them or would we rather have a true friend that already understands each need we are going through? Jesus is the greatest listener...the One who can relate to pain and heartache, or any other problem because of what He went through on the cross.

Fellowship with God Makes the Journey Easier

It's so easy for us to become weary, while traveling down a pathway that always seems to be filled with rocks of circumstances and despair and it seems like every time we turn around, there's one more rock to get over. We begin to wonder if we will have the strength we need to press on or should we just sit on the rocks and quit altogether. Galatians 6:9 reads..."And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Let's picture ourselves in a race. We know that the prize is many miles down the road but we are willing at first to do whatever it takes to reach the prize. Here we are...running down the road; putting our all into the race, when all of a sudden a thought comes in, that tells us that we can't make it. Suddenly we begin to believe the thoughts and before we know it; our eyes are off the prize and our thoughts become deeply fixed on the tiredness...the pain...and all the obstacles we seem to be running into.

We know that if we believe the thoughts, that are convincing us to quit; then we will quit but if we keep our eyes focused on the prize and we don't allow ourselves to fall prey to the thoughts that Satan is churning within our minds; then we know that in time, we will reap the prize.

On my own daily journey; I face obstacles of pain, tiredness, etc...but I also see myself going down this pathway and as I look straight ahead, I see my prize, which is Heaven. There are times when I'd like to sit along the wayside but I know in my heart, that if I don't keep pressing on, then I will never reap the prize I long for, which is to meet Jesus.

Those who live with chronic pain, heartache, grief, loneliness, etc..., can find that the journey seems so long and tiresome but when we are focused on the prize, then we will continually be drawn in the right direction and we won't find it so easy to give up.

No matter what you may be facing today; you may feel like the journey has just been too long. Seems like you have faced every rock in the pathway that there is but just remember that God is there to journey with you and if you let Him walk with you, as you fellowship together, then the journey will seem to get easier. When we find that our thoughts are caught up into despair; we need to look straight ahead and get our focus back on the prize.

Is God Seen As Something Greater Than Our Affliction?

How big is God in our eyes? When we place God on one end of the scale and the circumstance on the other end of the scale; who weighs out to be the greatest? There are times when we become so overwhelmed by life's struggles that we allow the circumstance to grow right in front of our faces. When we do this; we are pushing God to the side and allowing Him to become smaller and weaker in our lives, while we cry out to God and say..."where are you?"

In II Corinthians 12:9a, it reads..."And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness..." How are we to experience God's perfect strength, if we allow the weakness to become greater than God? When we allow our circumstances to control us, then we are allowing our circumstance to become a strong mountain in front of us, while God is in the background somewhere. When the circumstance grows, so does the power of evil.

The second part of II Corinthians 12:9 reads..."Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." How are we going to experience the powerful hand of God upon us, if we have weakened Him and made our circumstance stronger? Whatever or whomever we turn to, during difficult moments in our lives; will reveal who's in charge. If we dwell on the circumstance and allow it to grow, through our thoughts and response to the problem, then weakness will take charge and Satan will be there; adding more and more weaknesses, on top of what we are already experiencing. When we are able to see the circumstance and yet turn to a higher power, which is God, then we will reap the powerful benefits that will crush the ways of evil.

When we can approach our circumstance with a positive attitude and rejoice; knowing that we believe that God has everything under control, then we will be taking the thorn that Satan used to pierce our spirits and we will be striking Him back, as we begin to feel the weight and strength of God's hand upon us, instead the weight of the circumstance.

How are we viewing our Circumstances?

Tonight, I would like to share a small chapter in Psalms 13, which has been of great comfort and strength, while going through overwhelming moments in my life. The chapter reads..."How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? (2) how long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? (3) Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (4) lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. (5) But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (6) I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

How many times do we feel the moments that David experienced, as He wrote these words? We sit in our moments of pain or heartache and all our heart can say to God, is how long these moments will go on in my life? Have you forgotten me? How long will the sorrow and despair continue on?

I've learned that with all I've been through in my own life, that God was hiding His face from me, for a moments time; not to hurt me but to allow me to see the pain and heartache in my life, as a means of a purpose, instead of defeat.

Just as David was saying in this chapter..."lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him;"...we too need to realize that the circumstances we go through have to end victoriously, even when we feel that they won't. If we are going to show the world a victorious God, instead of a defeated God, then we need to look for the purpose that God has for our moments of pain and heartache. When we know that God only allows these moments to show victory through Him, then we are not only showing this to those around us but also to our-selves, which gives us renewed hope.

Near the end of this reading...David began to see his circumstance as a means of trusting in God's mercies, which caused him to rejoice in the salvation of His Lord. We have the hope, that no matter what the circumstance; God's mercies are new each day. We may go to bed with a broken heart but God can cause us to rise with the sun rays of His presence, which will allow us to see our circumstance in a new light, so we can smile and find a reason to rejoice in Him.

David began to realize that God wasn't allowing him, to go through this long, drawn out period in his life, for no reason. In the very end of this chapter; David sees that God had dealt with him, in the best way possible and David realized that the hand of God was at work, even while facing the difficult moments...for these became the moments that taught him, how to sing praises unto God.

Are we viewing our circumstances through the wrong set of eyes? When we put on the eyes of the world, we only feel despair and we find that we can't figure this out or that out and we end up sinking low, while we cry out to God and say, have you forgotten me? But when we put the eyes of Almighty God on, then we see that our circumstance isn't a waste and we know with God, that it won't last forever because our God is a victorious God!

His Beauty for our Ashes

God gives us beauty for ashes...strength for fear...gladness for mourning and peace for despair. Why do we continually sit in our "ashes of despair", when we know that there is a God that can exchange our weakness for His strength. He reaches out His arms of love; only to say...I will take the weight of your circumstance and I'll exchange it for a piece of Myself.

When we are open to His power, then He will take weakness and exchange it for His strength...He will take pain and exchange it for His peace and comforting spirit. Look at it this way...we are like test tubes, that are filled with harmful chemicals, that are keeping us weak but when we allow God to empty out the weakness, no matter what it may be, then He will not leave us empty and alone but He will fill the emptiness with His presence, so we can find renewed hope once more.

In Isaiah 61:3 reads..."To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Instead of sitting in our "ashes of despair"; God can turn the sadness and despair into something beautiful to our eye. Instead of the broken heart; God can anoint us with the oil of His joy, which is different, from what we experience here on earth because the joy is coming from a perfect God, instead of an

imperfect world. God can remove the spirit of heaviness; with a garment that will feel lighter and full of life and praise again.

We will go through trying times in our lives but it's not God's way to see us in a pit of despair forever. Instead, He longs for us to be like trees that grow and produce new growth, that His name may show strength and victory, instead of weakness and defeat. Instead of accepting the weakness that's been placed upon us; God wants us to get off the crutch of weakness and let Him heal the wound within our spirits, so that we can be used in greater ways for Him. I pray that as we begin a new week, that we will look for the showers of blessings from heaven, instead of wallowing in "ashes of despair".

Are We Attentive to God's Ways?

Sometimes it's difficult for us to find the purpose, for all we may be going through. We may wonder why a God of love and mercy would allow a death in the family or cancer in a loved one or difficult times without finances but could it be that God may be using these moments to draw us closer to Him, so we will lean on Him, instead of leaning on our own thoughts and ways? Acts 17:27 says..."His purpose in all of this is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him...though he is not far from any one of us."

When we are placed in a difficult situation, then we also find ourselves seeking for any help that will pull us out of our circumstance. A circumstance can place us on a dark and lonely road but when we can keep pressing on, while we feel our way through the dark; then God will see our seeking heart and reach back.

So many times we sit, while we wait for God to make the first move. God doesn't want to just hear our words of despair; He wants to see the heart that is searching for Him, while we are experiencing these moments in our lives. He wants us to clear out the cob webs of our own thoughts and ways, so we can completely lay ourselves empty before His throne. When God sees an empty heart, then He will know that there is plenty of room for Him to move in and take over.

In my own life, I experienced the hand of God many times, while going through multiple surgeries and heartache in my life but through the struggles, I began to see, that all God wanted was my attention, so He could lead me to the place, where He has me today. Instead of walking away from God, which only makes matters worse, we should be running into His arms of love; for He's the only One who has the answers and cures to our needs.

God Will Lift Us up When the World Puts Us Down

Our problems can make it difficult at times to distinguish between the way God and the world views our mistakes. We live in a world that is instantly ready to point out everything we do wrong; where God looks beyond the fault to see the need of our hearts. Matthew 11:28-30 reads..."Come to me and I will give you rest...all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke...for it fits perfectly...and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens."

While the world is quick to point out each mistake; God is there to take the heavy load upon Him, so we can find rest in Him. While the world is walking away from us; God is calling us back into His loving arms of mercy and truth. God is a god that will not strike us down or point His finger at us; but instead, He is a God that will take His hand and motion us back, so He can move beyond the fault and help us fix the need.

We are so used to the reactions of the world that it can be difficult at times, to know that there is a God that will love, instead of accuse. The love that God has for us is so great, that His eyes aren't even fixed on the mistake; instead His eyes become fixed on our hearts and what He desires for our lives.

Satan is the one who sets up the trap of low self-esteem and he's the one who lures us to the trap by whispering into our ears...that we have done this wrong and that wrong; until he has us convinced that even a God of love and mercy couldn't love us. In John 15, there is a verse that talks about love and how it's measured and this verse has become one of my favorites. It says that the greatest love is shown, when someone lays down their life for their friends. Jesus already proved that kind of love to us, when His entire body was laid out on a cross. When He laid His life down for us on the cross; He already showed us that He was more concerned about the need of our hearts, instead of our failures and mistakes.

Our Only Source of Provision

How many times do we say...I need money for this or I need money for that? Is money our god? Can money meet every need in our lives? Yes, we need money to pay our bills or buy food but money isn't the god or the true source that can meet every need in our lives.

We need a provider that can be there for every need...not just the need of money. In Philippians 4:19, it reads..."But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. When we take this verse apart, we see that first of all; God becomes the provider or supplier of any need we may have in our lives. Second of all, we see that our needs are provided by God, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In other words, God uses His own means to supply our needs. While our minds are on money as the source; He may have another means of helping us that we wouldn't have thought of. Today, while I was working; a package arrived through the mail and I couldn't figure out what that would've been because I wasn't expecting anything. When we opened the box; it was full of 8 light bulbs but these weren't just your ordinary light bulbs. They were the expensive ones, that will last up to 9 years and they were sent to us by our power company, as an energy saver. I looked at Keith and said...isn't that something, I just ran out of light bulbs and I was going to have to go to the store for more. This example may seem trivial, in comparison to other needs but God became the provider for me, in a way that I never expected and when He blessed me with the light bulbs; He gave me His very best.

God made everything on this earth, including you and me, so why wouldn't He be able to be the provider of our needs? He is a God that not only created all things but He's a God that takes care of all that He has created. When we turn to money or other things and rely only on those sources, then we tend to make them an idol or god. Money and other provisions are only the means that God uses to meet our needs but they aren't the true source or God of provision.

When we lean on money as our only source, then we find ourselves using God as a backup, when money or other things fail to help us. God wants us to lean on Him, to take care of each need. When we lean completely on Him and make Him our true source of provision, then we begin to see how God truly can work in our lives.

God Never Lifted Us Up To Let Us Down

Today, it seems like I've been in contact with quite a few people, who are dealing with overwhelming circumstances. These moments can become so overwhelming, that Satan has us convinced that the power within the circumstance is greater than God.

When a person is going through overwhelming moments in their lives; it can seem as though a big wave is about to sweep them away. This is the moment also, when Satan tries to convince us that there is no way that God can be great enough to help us through.

Tonight, as I was thinking about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; I was thinking back to the moments, when Jesus asked His Father to remove the cup of suffering from Him; only if it would be His Father's will. His Father in Heaven never removed that cup of suffering from Him, because He had a purpose and a plan, behind the death of the cross and that was to save the sins of the world. Even though He did not remove the cup of suffering from His only Son; He was there to sustain Him and guide Him into His kingdom. Jesus faced an insurmountable amount of temptation in the garden, even before the cross and I'm sure it was temptation beyond what anyone of us would ever experience, especially since Satan knew that the death of the cross would mean victory over hell and the grave but Jesus remained focused on His Father in Heaven and overcame the moments of great suffering and temptation, through His death, burial and resurrection.

Our circumstances can seem to be so big, that we lose hope in thinking that anyone or anything could save us but we must remember that God is greater than any circumstance or problem. Psalm 40:1-3 reads..."I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God."

Just as God rescued His Son from the cross, through the resurrection; He will do the same for us. We need to ask ourselves this question...if Jesus died a brutal death, just so He could show His love towards us, through salvation, then why would He fail us now. I pray that we all will be able to know and experience the power of God, in a way that will cause us to rise above defeat!

Are We Swift to Hear or Quick to Speak?

Do we truly hear the voice of God within our spirits or are we so busy asking for His help, that we forget to listen for His answers? Life can become so busy from day to day, that we begin to feel as though we are lost in a crowd of people, while God's still, small voice is trying to penetrate our hearts. James 1:19 reads..."Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;" We need to ask ourselves this question today...how can we hear the voice of God, when we are talking but not listening?

Sometimes we need to just sit in a quiet place and let go of everything that tries to creep in and take control of our thinking. Satan's desire is to keep our minds so preoccupied with all that is going on around us that we forget to listen for the voice of God. If we could just sit outside and listen to the wind and the simple sounds around us, that connect us to God, then our hearts would be opened and prepared to hear His voice.

Sometimes before I write, I can feel tired or stressed but I find, that all I need to do, is to just sit in a quiet room and look around and let my mind relax, so I can hear the still, small voice of God. Once I'm relaxed, I know God will give me the words that can help others, who are hurting.

We may be living with chronic pain, heartache, grief or some other kind of circumstance and the circumstance can attempt, to take control, until we don't know, feel or experience anything else but the circumstance. These are the moments, when we need to take a deep breath and sit quietly before God. When our hearts begin to seek after His presence, we will find Him alive and well within our hearts, as He begins to place His words of peace, within us.

Maybe we haven't been able to find the answers to our problems because we are too busy talking, rather than quietly listening for God's response. I pray that we all will find closeness to God that will allow us to hear His voice within our spirits today, especially during the difficult moments in our lives.

Old Things Are Behind Us While New Things Await Us

Tonight, while looking around the room; waiting for God to speak to my spirit, I was looking at a patchwork quilt that my husband and I have. Thinking back to the days of old; each patch that was placed on a quilt represented a piece of fabric that came from a child's piece of clothing or an old dress, or some other piece of fabric, that had become special to the quilter. As each shape of the quilt was sown together, each piece of fabric was held together with a loving stich and as each piece of the fabric was put in place; the beauty began to be revealed in the quilt.

We can feel like each section of our heart becomes similar to a piece of fabric. Each fabric of the heart reveals a memory, whether good or bad. The scars of our hearts become like the loving stiches of the quilt. God has taken each piece, whether broken or not and stitched them together, with loving stiches that make us who we are.

We can have moments when there are more stiches or scars upon our hearts than other times but as God has lovingly brought everything together in our lives; He has made our heart to become something better; filled with more fabric pieces that reveals the new growth that has taken place.

There may be times when we feel like we need to do the stich work and try to fix the frayed pieces that lay across our hearts but we find that the stiches don't work the same way as God's. We need Him to sew our lives back together, so we will become stronger. II Corinthians 5:17 reads..."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. When life takes us down; we may feel as though the stiches are falling apart and the pieces of our hearts are becoming frayed but when we know Jesus; we have the hope, that when He mends the brokenness in our lives, that everything will become new again. Once we let Him do the repair job, then we will begin to feel and experience something brand new and beautiful again.

God's Desires Are Found When We Delight in Him

How do we seek the deep desires of our hearts? Is it through words alone? What truly allows us to be connected with the highest God, in order for Him to know our desires? Psalm 37:4 reads..."Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

I believe that it's more than just talking with God that allows us to find the desires of our hearts. When we delight ourselves in God; that means that we are connected to Him and the way we speak, and react to life, will send messages up to Heaven, that allow God to know the desires we truly long for.

Talking to God becomes the first step that allows God to know what we desire but what happens when we talk to God and pour our hearts out to Him but then we go back to doubt and other negative feelings? This is when we lose that connection between us and God.

Today, as I was reading some of the words that God has given me over the past couple of days; I came to truly realize that our words aren't what God is looking for alone. He's looking for a heart that's seeking for the desire, not just talking about it.

If we knew there was a hidden treasure and we were given the map but yet, all we did was talk about going there some day, would we actually have the treasure? No...we would have to take the map and seek it out and find the desire we had been longing for.

God wants to hear our words but He also wants to see if we're willing to go after the desire with a full heart. I believe that God not only listens to the cries of our hearts but I believe that He's watching us, to see what we do from there.

Are we truly seeking the desire of our heart? Are we willing to connect ourselves to God and allow Him to view our hearts and the desire that lies within them? A relationship with God begins, when we not only ask for His help but seek after it too.

Rising Above the Obstacle of Guilt

How many times do we try to succeed, in overcoming a weakness in our life but yet we still find ourselves falling back to where we first began? We wonder...how can we find ourselves pleasing to God? All we end up feeling is the side effect of guilt, for each time we don't succeed but because of Jesus' death on the cross; He offers us a new beginning, for each time we fall. We do not have to be enslaved to the past and the mistakes we make in life. In Lamentations 3:22-23 it reads..."It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

We live in a world of blame and abuse, due to the sinful nature that surrounds us but we need to remember that we don't live in a perfect world either, so we won't be made perfect until we walk through heavens gates. Through the verses we read in God's word; we see that He is a God of compassion...not blame. I'm learning more and more in my life, that when I do something wrong; I need to view it as a lesson that needs to be learned. I believe that when we have the word "blame" hanging over our head; we eventually find ourselves in a hole of despair, where we wallow in the feelings of guilt. When Jesus died on the cross; He died for the sins of the world but He also died to show us that we don't have to live forever in despair. There is a song that I have known most of my life and a little of it goes like this..."There is a place to begin again; where everything becomes new. There is a place where we'll always have a friend; Jesus is the One who gave His life for you. Come with me to a lonely hill; bring all the worst of your sin; just ask Jesus your life to fill and you'll find the place of beginning again."

During Bible times; they sacrificed the purest animal they had before God, which was mainly a lamb. This was a way of allowing something that appeared to be perfect, to be sacrificed for the sin that had been committed. Once Jesus went to the cross; He became the purest sacrificial lamb and His cross became the sacrificial alter. Through His death; He paid the price for the sins that we would fall prey too.

We all have weaknesses that we may be trying to overcome in our lives. We may be striving to do our best; but yet, we still fall short of achieving our best. A person, who suffers with chronic pain, may not always be able to control the feelings that stem from the pain. A grief stricken person may not always be able to achieve strength for that particular journey and a person who is struggling financially may have their days too. No matter what the pathway of circumstance; we aren't always going to be able to hold up under the weight of the problem. Jesus understands and offers us a new set of mercies or beginnings each morning. When we fall; He's there...reaching out His hand of love, to offer us a new beginning.

We need to leave the guilt behind and remember that God has given us a gift, through His Son Jesus Christ and that gift is a new start. Don't allow your mistakes to take you to a wallowing hole; but instead...look for the hand of God. He's willing and ready to help you begin anew.

What Does The Resume Of Our Life Reveal?

If we were to look at a resume of our life; what would we see? Would we view the resume, through a worldly eye or through the eyes of God? If we are a person who has been through a lot in our life, then maybe we would see our resume like this...a person with pain, heartache, grief, loneliness, lack of work, lack of income, living with cancer or some other kind of disease. Looking at this kind of a resume, through a worldly eye can seem overwhelming, to the place where we may feel like we were born for nothing and we will die someday for nothing.

What if we were to view the resume of our life through a heavenly view? We may see pain, heartache, grief, loneliness, lack of work, lack of income, living with cancer or some other kind of disease but the view would reveal something different. Instead of seeing a resume that reveals defeat; we would see a resume that may reveal battles in our lives that were fought for the cause of Christ, which would give us a reason to rejoice, instead of feeling like we had lived a life in vain.

In Colossians 3:2-3, it reads..."Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." So...our view is different, when we have Christ living within us. If the old life is spiritually dead, then our old way of thinking and viewing life should be dead too. Others may see the resume of our life as defeat but when we are viewing our lives through God's eyes; then we are seeing wounds that have come from a hard and difficult battle over evil.

God sees our love for Him, when He views the brokenness of our hearts and bodies. He knows that our love for Him isn't only through word but also through the things that we have sacrificed for Him. We also would find an easier way of handling our circumstances, if we could see that these moments aren't moments of defeat; but rather moments of giving our love back to God. Just as Jesus' resume showed love, instead of defeat; ours too should reveal a heart of love and devotion to Him.

God's Creation Is a Reminder of His Power

When we are overwhelmed with our day; maybe it's time to just sit and look around at God's creation. His creation can be a reminder to us, of the power that comes from God. Today was a true spring day, where we live. The wind was blowing and the rain was falling but as I was thinking about the wind gusts we experienced today, which were around 52mph; they were reminding me of God's power. The wind must only be an ounce of what radiates from His presence.

I have a writing in my study bible, under the heading..."Knowing God". Some of it goes like this..."How can we describe God? With what can we compare him? With an idol? It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. He is the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. He dooms the great men of the world and brings them all to naught. They hardly get started, barely take root, when he blows on them and their work withers and the wind carries them off like straw. With whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens! Who created all these stars? As a shepherd leads his sheep, calling each by its pet name, and counts them to see that none are lost or strayed, so God does with stars and planets! Isaiah 40:18, 22-26"

Maybe when we're having a rough day; all we need to do is view the power that comes from all of God's creation. Maybe we just need to have a reminder, that there is a being that is stronger than our problems.

Who else could allow the trees to continually stand, even while they are praising Him in the wind? Who else could cause the stars to dance in the sky and fall with one thought of His command? Who else could make the lakes and oceans so deep but yet they do not flood the earth? Who else could build a mountain, without hauling all the dirt into a pile? Who else could cause the sun to rise in the morning and know just the right time to set? Who else can allow it to rain one moment, while displaying a beautiful rainbow in the sky, the next moment? Who else could paint all the colors of the sunset, in a way that shows different shades of colors? There's only One being that can do this and that is God. If we were to slow down and observe everything through God's eyes, then we would see the full extent of a powerful God and once we have a full view of His power, then we would once more be filled with renewed hope and the darkness would begin to fade away.

Yet Still I Rise

Today, our circumstances can be allowing us to say, "I quit" but as long as our actions press on; this is where the victory is won. We need to realize, that our words can either take us down the right pathway or down a detour road...away from God. There are times, when we can feel like the words, "I quit" have already become a failure in our lives but when we are able to move forward, even during times of adversity, then our actions have become a victory, over the words that Satan was attempting to defeat us with.

In Hebrews 10:36, it reads..."You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised." Even though we have moments, when we feel like quitting the battle between good and evil; we must rise above our thoughts and words and continue to press on. When we continue to press forward and seek God's will for our lives, then God will complete His work in and through us and give us all the answers to life's questions.

When a person is training to run in a marathon, they may go through a rigorous training of exercise. They may have days, when they feel like their bodies have had enough and while their heart longs to win the race; their minds are trying to convince them; that they can't continue on. They know that if they listen to their thoughts, then they will never achieve what they've always wanted. In a similar way, we may feel as though we are preparing for a race and the race is against evil. We may wake up with pain in our bodies or our heart has been broken and even though we know that God wants us to press on, it's so easy to fall prey, to the trap that Satan has set up for us, through the thoughts that try to convince us to give up.

There is a song that Yolanda Adams sings, titled "Still I Rise" and the lyrics go like this..."Shattered, but I'm not broken...Wounded still time will heal. Heavy the load the cross I bear; lonely, the road I trod I dare. Shaken, but here I stand... Weary, still I press on. Long are the nights, the tears I cry; dark are the days, no sun in the sky... Yet still I rise, Never to give up, never to give in against all odds. Yet still I rise, high above the clouds; yet times I feel low... yet still I rise. Sometimes I'm troubled but not is despair. Struggling, I make my way through. Trials they come to make me strong; I must endure, I must hold on. Yet still I rise, never to give up, never to give in, against all odds... Yet still I rise; high above the clouds; at times I feel low, yet still I rise. Above all my problems... above all my eyes can see; knowing God is able to strengthen me."

God Unveils Each Layer of His Plan

Throughout the weekend, I've been watching our Easter Lilies slowly open. I was thinking about how each flower opens...layer upon layer and I was thinking how God designed them to open up the way they do. When each layer or petal of the flower has opened, then the flower is made complete and beautiful; for what it was designed to be. The flower not only displays its beauty but it's also filled with the fragrance of God.

In a similar way...our lives unfold, one layer at a time. Each new layer or petal of our lives, slowly allows us to see what God has destined for us. The more our lives open up to the will of God; the more we are able to see where our lives are headed.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 reads..."For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest." No matter what we are going through; whether we are a writer or have a ministry or whether we live with pain and chronic illnesses; God has a plan for each of our lives. Our petals in this life may not open like others around us but that doesn't mean that God can't display His beauty to the world, through a flower that has had struggles.

We don't need to try and figure out, how our lives are going to unfold; all we need to do is let God begin to unfold the first layer of His plan and as we seek Him, like the flower seeks for the sun, then everything will open up according to His plan and will for our lives. Many times we try and open the first layer of God's plan on our own, until we find that we can't begin to open up new things for our lives like He can. Once we seek Him for the answers, with a heart that's longing to know His will, then He will allow the first layer of His plan to unfold before our very eyes. From there, we will never feel the same again!

God has a beautiful design for our lives and He has a plan that will allow His beauty to be seen, even through a flower that may be struggling to grow. All we need to do is allow Him to begin the work; then working with Him, we will see the beauty of His plan unfold before us.

There to the End

This weekend, we've been in touch with the brutal death, which Jesus suffered on the cross, that we may be free, even through times of adversity. We then looked deep into the tomb, where Jesus went into the depths of hell, to take away the keys of death and hell from Satan; that our prison door of despair may be opened, so we could be free through Christ. Today, we think back to the moments, when Jesus left the tomb; triumphant over evil and Satan himself. From here, we must remain connected to Jesus; the One who has been alive and at work in each of our lives, for so many years.

Times of adversity can allow us to forget His triumph over despair but we must remember, that the feeling that has entered us this Easter, is freely given to us, for each day we live and breathe. Matthew 28:18-20 reads..."And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Jesus wants us to carry on, from where He left off, while He journeyed on this earth. He doesn't want us to continually remain in our pit of despair, but instead, He wants us to rise above the pit, so we can use our afflictions for His name sake. Jesus is also reminding us, that He will always be with us, even to the very end of the world. In Psalm 23:4, it reads..."Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me." Jesus never said that the journey would be easy for us but He did say in these verses, that He would always be with us, even unto the end of the world.

Just as Jesus depended on His Father, to see Him through the awful ordeal of the cross; we too can depend on Him to see us through moments of despair and just as Jesus' Father received Him into Heaven; we too have the hope, that one day our journey will end with Him in Heaven.

More than Just an Ordinary Death

We think back to the moments that took place, while Jesus was still in the grave. Revelation 1:18 says..."I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

I believe that the time Jesus spent in the tomb; became the moments when Jesus went into the pits of hell, to take the keys of hell and death away from Satan. The moment Jesus completed His death on the cross, also became the moment, when Jesus became victorious over all evil and Satan himself. This is the hope we have to live for. No matter what we may be going through for the moment; we know that our suffering isn't eternal, when we know Jesus and believe in what He did for us on the cross. What love! Where could we find anyone on this earth that would be willing to give up everything including life itself, to save another person from an eternity of sin, pain and suffering?

Jesus now holds the keys in His hand, to break the bondage of evil in our lives and allow us to be free. He is the One who can place the key in our prison door of despair and free us and lead us down a new pathway of hope.

I have a saying that goes like this..."Whatever a person believes or perceives to be true; will be what they receive. If we know of Jesus' death but yet we don't believe in what His death has done for our own personal lives, then we will never receive His key of hope that can unlock the prison door to our heart and free us.

When we can see Jesus' death, as more than an ordinary death, then we will see the power in our lives that comes from the cross and the grave. His death and victory over evil can only become real, when we allow it to live and work within our lives.

Faith That Can Draw Us to the Master's Touch

Today, I was thinking about the power of God and how His power can radiate from the cross to anyone who believes. There may be times when we believe but yet we stumble upon another person or problem that becomes our enemy, instead of our friend because they have not made the choice to follow Jesus.

About 15 yrs. ago, my husband and I had a neighbor who would always find fault with us. He seemed to be a man that was always angry at the world. One day, as I was out on our deck; I looked over, to the direction where he lived and said..."Lord, help me to love that man". One day later, as I was out...working with my flowers and things on the deck, I heard a voice say, "Hi Diane". I looked and the only one that I could see was this man. I went back to what I was doing and then I heard this voice again. I looked up and he had a big smile on his face and he was greeting me for the first time. Later on, we found out, that he had turned his life over to Jesus and he had sold everything...to go out and help others. To me it was a surprise; but then I remembered the prayer I prayed and how, with one touch of the master's hand, he had been brought to God.

In Matthew 9:19-21, it reads..."And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. (20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: (21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." When everything seems hopeless around us and we are going through difficult relationships, etc...we may not be able to fix the problem but with one touch of the master's hand, a person can be made whole.

There are times when we have tried everything we can try and still no hope is rising from the circumstance but remember...with one touch of the master's hand, anything can be made whole again. Sometimes we need to let go of the reigns, so God can have space to work.

Are We Willing To Pick Up Our Cross For Christ?

During this week...I have been thinking more deeply on the "cross". Throughout this week, I've been watching a mini-series, on the movie titled..."Jesus of Nazareth". One part that caught my attention more deeply was when Jesus was asking His Father to remove this cup from Him, if that was His Father's will. Even though His Father did not do that; Jesus still remained obedient to the cross; even though He knew the enormous amount of pain and suffering He would go through.

In our lives, we may go through ongoing pain, heartache, grief, or some other need. We may ask God to remove it from us, if it be His will; but when He doesn't, how do we react to our circumstance? Matthew 10:38 reads..."And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me is not worthy of me." The cross we carry in life can be difficult to carry at times. Are we sitting, with our cross in hand, while we just sit; thinking about what's next? Jesus says that if we don't take our cross or whatever we've been given and follow after Him, then we aren't worthy of Him.

I remember back in my past, when I tried to fight my way through everything I went through. At that time, it seemed more important to just get over the pain or the heartache; never knowing at the time, that this had become my cross, that could be used to encourage others who were weighed down by pain and heartache. Now, there are still days of pain and tiredness but the feeling in my spirit is different. I don't see my pain as pain and I don't see my heartache as heartache. I see them as a cross that can show Jesus to others in need.

Jesus was willing to pick up the cross for us; are we willing to do the same for Him? If we could see our cross through Jesus' eyes, then the load wouldn't be so difficult to bear.

God's Breath Revitalizes Our Spirits

Our day to day living can drain us of everything we once had. We can feel as though the light has dimmed out within our soul. Today I was reminded of a poem that I once wrote and it goes a little like this..."Breathe on me, O Spirit, to heal every hurting part; to make my life in tune with you, so You can speak to my heart...so nothing is there but you and me; to have your perfect peace; as the dark places in my heart, pull away in sweet release. Then as your breath pulls away, the darkness shall go and my heart shall be brand new, with more love than I could ever know."

I wrote this poem, many years ago and while I sat and thought about the words that I was writing...I thought of God's presence breathing into my spirit, so I could once more press on, rather than, remain in my pit of despair. Then I thought of His breath being released from my spirit, as He took every unclean thing with it, until I felt refreshed, alive and renewed.

Our moments of trial can allow us to feel as though we have lost everything we once had with God but just because we feel these moments in our lives; does not mean that we have to accept them. All we need to do is ask God to breath down upon us and renew us in His spirit.

When I wrote this poem, I was on a deck, outside of a place we lived, at the time. My husband was at work and I remember standing along the rail of the deck, as I looked up into the beautiful, artistic sky that God had painted for me that day. As I began to dwell more on God's presence, a strong wind came up and blew upon my face. From that day on, when I feel a gust of wind strike me in the face, I'm reminded of what I felt that day, when I felt the presence of God, so near.

God is already surrounding us with His presence, especially during times of trial...all we have to do is seek Him and He will open up His presence to us and breathe life within us. I pray that you will experience the presence of God, as He breathes His Spirit of renewal, within you today.

A Brick Wall of Circumstance

Is Nothing to A Powerful God

Our circumstances can allow us to feel as though there is a wall between us and God. We can feel like we are shouting for God's help through a wall of bricks, while each circumstance stands before our face. One brick can resemble pain, and one brick can resemble heartache...one brick a chronic or terminal illness...etc... As our circumstances begin to grow; we tend to feel the wall surrounding us.

Ephesians 3:14 says..."For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us:" We have to believe that no wall of circumstances can prevail, in the presence of God. When Jesus died for our sins; He also died to replace the darkness and despair of our circumstances, for His perfect peace. No matter what kind of a wall stands before us; God has the power to break down the wall between us and Him and allow His peace to flow, where once darkness reigned.

When God hears our cries of despair, then He takes the power within His presence and shows Satan, that the circumstances mean nothing to Him. Many times, we just sit in our despair, within the prison walls of our circumstances; both past and present, while we feel like, what's the use. We see our circumstances and even the ones from the past, as so overpowering in our lives, that we allow them to take us over like a disease.

All God asks of us, is that we cry out to Him in our despair and from there, He will take care of the rest. Quite a while back, when I was writing poetry; God was giving me the words to write, for a beautiful poem. As I was writing, I had a vision come to my thoughts, which I normally do, at times when I write. I saw myself in a deep pit of despair and all there was around me, were dirt walls. I couldn't see any way out of the pit, so I just sat on the dirt floor. There were times when I tried to climb out of the pit, as I would try and get a footing in the side walls; but it seemed that each time I tried; I just fell right back to the bottom of the pit. As I saw myself sitting in the pit; I began to cry out for help. After a minute or so, I saw a hand reach down into the pit. As I looked up to the hand; I saw the nail prints. As I went to reach up for help; I heard Him speak to me, as He said..."I came down off the cross, when I heard your cries; to rescue you from the pit that Satan threw you in. As I reached the top of the pit; Jesus began to hold me in His loving arms, as He lead me to a new pathway that was safe again.

If you are going through circumstances, that over time has built a wall between you and God; don't give up. Remember...God has more power, than all your circumstances and when He hears your cries; He will come and break down the wall that has made you feel so alone in your life.

God's Love Carries On

Times of pain, heartache, grief and trying circumstances can take a toll on us and allow us to feel as though Jesus doesn't care. This is the time when our faith is being tested and prepared for new growth. There is a part in a song by "The Crabb Family"...titled "The Cross," that says..."Though He could have walked away; He chose the cross." Jesus didn't have to go to the cross. He could have walked away and left us destitute but He chose to follow through with such pain and suffering because His love for us was greater than the moments of His own suffering.

We tend to forget, that Jesus can understand pain, heartache, rejection and grief because He walked those lonesome steps to the cross, after being beaten, spit upon and rejected by man. He became stripped of everything in His life; just so He could show His love towards us, through the pain and death of the cross.

We tend to experience rejection, loneliness and heartache in this world because we live in a sinful world; where people have become lovers of themselves. Why would Jesus die such a horrible death; just to turn around and walk away from us?

One of my life verses is Psalm 34:18a, which reads..."The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking..." When His spirit lives within us; He is always with us. We don't have to go looking for Him; all we have to do is look deep within our hearts and knock on the door and He will answer and allow us to come in and share our needs with Him.

As the people waved their palm branches, while praising their Messiah; this time of rejoicing soon ended, as Jesus' death drew closer. Jesus knows what it's like to have people say they love you, while watching them walk away the next moment. He knows what it's like to walk a lonely path of pain. He is the One who will stay close beside us and never walk away from us, when we have fallen prey to our pain or circumstance.

Jesus' love for us never changes. His love is the same love that He felt; the day He went to the cross. You may be going through chronic pain, cancer, surgery, loneliness, grief or just a bad day and you feel as though no one could ever care or understand your need. Remember my friend...that Jesus is already there for you and He will hold His loving hands around your heart and sustain and comfort you throughout this time, until the day comes, for you to walk out of your circumstance.

Today isn't a day to feel low; but instead, it's a day to rejoice because Jesus is close beside each heart that's breaking, no matter what the need is and He has promised to never leave us.

Handing It All Over to God

Where is our cares and concerns today? Are they with Jesus or do we still have ownership of them? In I Peter 5:7, it reads..."Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you." As I've read this verse many times; I often wondered; how do I truly leave my cares and concerns with God? What can I do, so I don't take them back? While I was thinking about this a while ago; a thought came to me, to close my eyes and picture a big box before me. As I closed my eyes and did this; I could see myself placing each care and concern into the box. As I finished; I placed the lid on the box and walked it over to God. I handed it over to him and walked away. Once I walked away, I realized that there was no turning back or sneaking anything out of the box. All my cares and concerns were now with God.

How many times do we say to ourselves, that we have truly released a problem or concern into the hands of God, while all along, the problem still remains with us? We know this, by how we react to the problem or concern. Usually a person who has truly given the need to God will forget it and sit back, with a settled feeling, that God has everything under control. We can go for days; thinking that the problem has been resolved and then something jerks us back and that is the moment when we either discover that we have left the problem behind or allowed it to remain.

We need to remember that God is watching over everything that concerns us and that alone gives us hope, that He is someone who can be trusted to take over our problems. We need to realize that when we cling tightly to our problems; that they aren't comforting us but instead, they are making each day miserable.

God Knows What He's Doing

Many times, we experience trials because of mistakes in our lives but we must remember that God does not place the trial on us but instead, He uses the trial to correct the flaw in our life. We need to have confidence that what God begins in us; He will also complete it. In Psalm 71:20, it reads..."Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth." As I read this verse, where it speaks of God bringing us up again from the depths of the earth; my thoughts went to a "pit of despair". To me, this is a place where we feel like our circumstance has thrown us down into a place where all that surrounds us is the walls of our circumstance. We try to get out on our own but with each try, we find ourselves falling back into the bottom of the pit. When we try to get out of the circumstance on our own, it's as if we are taking control, instead of allowing God to fix what's been broken first. It's as if we want to skip the learning process and just leap out of the pit. We've all tried to do this I'm sure, at one time or another. If we want to be made into vessels that can be used by Him, then we have to sometimes go through the fire, so God can eliminate and smooth out the flaws that will get in the way of being used for Him.

God knows what He's doing, even more than what we can comprehend. When He allows us to experience a trying moment in our lives; we have to believe that He also has the power to bring us out of the pit of circumstance. How can God become a victorious God, if He leaves us in the pit? This alone should bring renewed hope to our thoughts today.

The pit of pain, heartache, grief, etc... can become a lonesome place, where all we experience is the dark, cold feelings, that come from the problem but we must remember that God is in the pit with us and when He has completed everything, that will smooth out the flaws in our lives, then there will be no struggle, when it comes time to leaving the pit behind because He will lift us high above the trial and place us on a new pathway, where we can be used for Him.

Don't give up on your circumstance; instead, seek and you will find the answers, that God is trying to reveal to you. Instead of working against God, by clinging to the circumstance...work with Him and leave the circumstance with Him, so He can repair and make your life renewed in His spirit.

A Circumstance Can't Save Itself

When we are experiencing overwhelming circumstances, do we see the circumstance as something that is more powerful than God? We can do this without even realizing it because the symptoms that are associated with our circumstances can begin to tell us a different story, than what we knew before we were afflicted with the problem. It seems to be Satan's job to distract us from God, so we will remain focused on the problem, as a means of keeping us in despair.

Sometimes it's hard to find the light of God, while experiencing the total darkness of our circumstances but when we turn to God, while experiencing these moments; then we are allowing God to light the candle of truth, so the deception that was hidden in the darkness from Satan can be revealed.

In Psalm 18:28-29, it reads..."For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. (29) For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall." First of all, these verses don't say that our circumstance will bring everything to light or allow us to leap over the wall of darkness; so why do we turn to our circumstances and cling to them so deeply? Why do we view them as something more powerful than God?

When we allow our circumstances to dictate us, then we will never be set free. A circumstance can't save us from itself. We need a God that is more powerful and mighty; a God that will stand in the midst of despair and allow His light and presence to reveal the deception and darkness that has been placed upon us. We need a strong God that will fill us with a strength that is greater than the circumstance itself, so we can run and leap over the wall of our circumstance and be set free.

The Bible says in Phil. 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, so why are we clinging to our problems, instead of clinging to the strength that only God can offer us? We are wasting our time, trying to find the answers through a problem that is only a problem. We need the truth of God, that can set us free and show forth His light to us, so that we can venture safely back to the pathway He longs for us to travel on.

When we begin to see God as a stronger being, than the circumstance that surrounds us, then the circumstance will begin to dim out, while God's light begins to shine brighter in our lives. I pray, that we will be able to remain connected to God and that through His word and prayer; we will find Him to be stronger than the circumstance that has afflicted us.

Where Does Worry Take Us?

In these days we live in, are we allowing the circumstances of this life, to surround us with worry and fear? As I was listening to some music on my computer; God began to lay something special on my heart to share with you today. As I went into a little study Bible of mine, I found these beautiful verses in Luke 12:22-28, which reads..."Then turning to his disciples he said, "Don't worry about whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food and clothes. And besides, what's the use of worrying? What good does it do? Will it add a single day to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't even do such little things as that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? Look at the lilies! They don't toil and spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not robed as well as they are. And if God provides clothing for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, don't you suppose that he will provide clothing for you, you doubters?" These verses are great reminders to us, that we don't need to doubt or worry about anything in our lives, when we have Jesus there to care for us.

In the spring and summer, we begin to see flowers blooming. As each flower opens up, we stand in amazement, at the beauty they behold. Within a couple days, we may pass by them again and see that they are quickly leaving their beauty behind but if God allows such beauty, for only a short time, then why wouldn't He do even more for us? Here is a plant that is here today and gone tomorrow and yet His beauty shines through each petal that unfolds before our very eyes.

Look at the birds that soar around us each day. They can't plant or harvest the seed they eat; but yet God still feeds them. If we are much more precious to God, than the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air, then wouldn't He be there for us?

Where does worry take us? Can worry help our problems and make us feel better? Worry doesn't add anything to our lives but fear, frustration and anxiety. When we can trust God, just as the flowers and the birds do, then we can live with true peace and contentment in our lives. There's an old hymn that goes like this..."when peace like a river attendeth my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say...it is well...it is well with my soul."

God remains the same in every way. Whether we are going through pain, lack of work, heartache, grief or some other need; He will take care of us. When we come to the point in our lives, when we accept His ways instead of our own, then we will be giving Him free reign, so His will can be accomplished in our lives. Life doesn't always go the way we like it to but when God is in charge, every piece of the puzzle will come together, to make our lives complete. Remember this...he did not bring us this far to leave us...He didn't create us, to destroy us...He didn't die on the cross to save us, just so He could walk away and dessert us. He not only created us but He also longs to care for us. When our thoughts go towards worry and doubt, then we are binding up the hands of God, while evil takes the reigns instead. I pray that we all will remember that God is a strong God and that there is nothing that He cannot do.

Our View of Pain through God's Eyes

How do we see our pain? Do we see our pain as something defeating us or something that could be used in a greater way? We are brought up in a world that looks at pain, problems and heartache, as something that is a defeat in our lives. When we look deeply into the pain and problems we go through; we seem to only see a struggle; as though we are lost in a wilderness. The problem seems to dictate our life but all that comes out of the problem is a lost feeling, as though we can't find our way out of this wilderness we are in.

We need to remember, that when we start viewing our pain or problem through a heavenly realm, instead of an earthly realm, that we will always find God's sustaining sunlight by day and His comforting moonlight by night. When the time comes for us to walk out of the wilderness; He will come and lead us out.

If we trust God and allow Him to have control, then we will become strengthened, instead of falling prey to more weakness. His strength will give us what we need to climb His mountain of hope; where He will allow us to look down upon the wilderness that once had control over us, so we can see the distance He's brought us.

If we are always allowing the pain or problem to dictate our life and only reveal defeat, then we will live with defeat but when we can say..."I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me" and "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength", then we will be able to "run and not be weary and we will be able to walk and not faint".

When we see our problems through a worldly eye, then we will remain weary, faint and discouraged but when we look at our problem, the way God sees it, then we will see something in our lives that's not a defeat but a means for Christ to be seen through us.

Our Words Can Defeat Us

Today, as I was getting around...finishing my week long cleaning; I was talking with my husband and saying that if we could truly understand the depth of God's power, then we would be able to see the beauty of God's hand at work in us.

This week has been quite the challenge for me. A lot of the things my husband and I did, to clean up our home became very difficult for me at times, due to the problems with my legs and the chronic pain I live with but God showed me tonight, that He is the God who can turn our ashes of despair, into something beautiful. He can take our moments of heartache and mourning and turn these moments into a joy that sustains us. Isaiah 61:3 reads..."To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

This week, I learned that God's power can go beyond limitation. I found that even during the moments of pain and tiredness, that He was a God that could hit the control switch and place me into over drive. God showed me that He was able to exchange the moments that seemed impossible to me, so He could reflect His image upon me, as He took the weakness and molded it into a moment of strength. God showed me this week, that He was able to take the heaviness, that was weighing my mind down at times and exchange it with a heart of praise, for all He had helped me to accomplish.

When we say the word " I can't", then we have already become defeated in life. God not only loves us but He longs to also use our weaknesses, so He can be reflected to a world that needs Him. Are we experiencing the fullness of God? Are we allowing Him to exchange the weakness in our life, for something of great power and strength? Do we believe that our "ashes of despair" can be turned into something beautiful through God? We will never know the distance God can take us, until we are willing to believe in the fullness of a powerful God.

God Is Never a Quitter

God has reminded me, that He not only gives us strength through the difficult moments but He's also a God that never leaves anything incomplete. In order for God to become victorious, everything must be complete or Satan wins the battle. No matter what we may be facing today, we can feel as though it may never come to an end but we have the hope, that with God...everything has to end in a triumphant and victorious way, whether it be here on earth or in Heaven.

What if God would have started His creation and quit; right in the middle of everything that He had planned to do? What if God's Son would have only went part of the way to the cross and then walked away? Our circumstance can become so overwhelming, that we think that there is no end in sight but that's not true. Just as God completed His own work, through His Son, Jesus Christ, He will find a time to complete, what He has begun in us too.

When we are going through overwhelming moments in our lives, we long for something that will allow us to view hope, rather than the darkness we live in. We all need renewed hope in God each day, so the days from the past don't overtake us. What if God created only one day to live and that same day kept going on forever? The hope that we can cling to, is that He gives us a new day to begin, every day...a new day that brings us new beginnings.

When we live with uncertainties but yet live with a renewed hope, that God will complete what we are experiencing at the moment, then we will find it easier to press on in life.

Go For the Prize

Today was one more day of my week long spring cleaning. Tonight, as I was getting around for the evening, after a long day of cleaning with my husband; I was beginning to feel the pain set in good but God seemed to whisper in my ear..."go for the prize Diane". He was encouraging me to remain focused on Him, instead of the work that still needed to be done.

As I sat down to write you tonight; God was taking me back to Philippians 3:14, which reads..."I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." In this verse, these words are referring to the prize that will await those who believe in God and serve Him diligently, even while walking down difficult pathways; but God was using this verse to show me tonight, that when I've got my eye on the prize; I will finish and be rewarded, for what I've accomplished.

How can we experience and feel the full extent of God's power, if we are always placing a wall up between us and God that limits His power in our lives? When a person is running in a race, they have obstacles that they may have to jump over. As the race is going into full force, they may be getting tired but when they have their eye fixed on the prize, then they seem to find the endurance to keep going, no matter how they may be feeling for the moment.

We all are running a race in life and where we end up, will be determined by who we have our eyes fixed upon. If we're going to complete the race, then we need to do 2 things. We need to first, have our eyes fixed on God, instead of our problems and then we need to allow the full extent of God's power to work with us. His strength is what we need to draw from, so we need to be completely connected to Him, while our eyes remain off the problem.

Can we do all things through Christ which strengthens us? Have we had an experience with God that causes us to feel the full extent of His power and strength in our lives? No matter what you may be facing today; just keep your eyes on the prize, which is Christ Jesus and you will find that you can do all things through Him.

Where Are You God?

How many times have we wondered where God is, while facing a difficult situation in life? We can feel at times, as though God is hiding His face from us, as the sun hides itself behind a cloud. We can feel as though the situation is swallowing us up, while we feel as though our enemy of pain, heartache or any other negative thing, seems to be triumphing over us.

If we were to be honest with ourselves, we all have these moments, at one time or another, when we begin to wonder, if God still cares. One thing I've come to enjoy about the Psalms, are the moments when David communicated with God. If we were to read some of the chapters, where David is crying out to God for help, we would see that David experienced 3 different steps, before coming to realize that God was truly with him. First, David cries out to God and lays everything before Him, as though to say...this is the way it is God...help me. After David empties his heart out before God, then his thoughts begin to flash back to the days, when God helped his ancestors and himself. David seems to draw from these moments of hope, when He remembered or experienced God's blessings, and as he goes on to communicate with God; David discovers a heart of praise...knowing that if God worked out the situations of the past, then He will do it once more. This is the moment, when David leaves his situation, to become deeply connected with God.

Maybe we have become so overwhelmed by what we are going through, that we have not completely laid our hearts before God's throne. Maybe we see the situation we're going through, as a giant mountain in our life, rather than taking the time to remember the moments when we had experienced God's loving hand at work in our lives. Maybe everything is so clouded over, in a dense fog of despair, that we can't see the Son of God, shining deeply within our hearts and lives?

Once we have totally laid everything before God's throne and once we have taken the time to look back and think about God's goodness, rather than the dark moments of despair, then maybe we would feel more deeply connected to God, which would bring about a heart of rejoicing, rather than feeling a heart that is lost, in a pit of despair.

Are We Imprisoned Within Our Own Thoughts?

Where do our thoughts take us? Do they take us to a place of refuge, that can only be found through Jesus Christ or do they keep us imprisoned, within our circumstance? One way, we can stand on the true and only promises of God, is by the way we think and by how we accept the things that are going on around us. For example...we can know that God's strength is everlasting but are we sending a message to God, that we believe this, by the way we think and accept it into our lives?

Lately, I have been thinking back to the verse in Philippians 4:13, which reads..."I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I began to realize even more today, that it's so easy to say..."Oh...I believe that;" but when it comes time to live the verse; this becomes the time when our faith is truly being tested. As I stopped for a moment and said...God, I need all the strength you can give me...I know in my heart, that He is truly there for me and that I can do anything, with Him by my side!

We need to remember, that our faith isn't being tested, when everything is going fine, but rather, it is being tested at the most difficult moments we go through. Ephesians 4:23,24 reads..."And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Our thoughts will either allow us to experience God's complete power and strength or only a limited amount, of His power and strength. When we are renewed in the spirit of our minds and we are allowing the new person within us, to work side by side with God, then we will have thoughts that will allow us to soar above our weaknesses, into the arms of a strong and mighty God.

Are We Standing on God's Promises

Or Are We Viewing Them from A Distance

Are we standing on the promises of God or are we just viewing His promises from a distance? God has given us a word, that is full of His promises...promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us...promises that He will not allow us to suffer beyond what we are able...promises that He will always be with us and promises, that He will one day return for us. Do we see these promises as words of power and truth or just words? Do they become words of healing and sustaining power, within our lives, while going through very difficult moments?

One of the promises that God has used so much in my own life, is found in John 14:18, which reads..."No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm...I will come to you." These are words to reassure us that He will ALWAYS be close to us; no matter what we may be going through in life. Do we truly believe His words of promise? Are we standing on them, and holding tightly to them, so they can help us weather the storms in our lives or do we just know His promises, while we view them from a distance?

God's word isn't just any ordinary book, that is read and placed on the shelf but rather, it's a book of tools that can be used to either plant new wisdom within us or cultivate His healing words within our hearts, so that we can grow strong in Him, instead of falling along the wayside.

When we are standing on His words of promise, then our lives will reveal His promises to others. We will find ourselves in a place of refuge, where His promises become a shield of defense, while facing difficult battles in our lives. When we just view His promises from a distance, then we are just using them as a reminder, instead of a firm foundation.

Are we truly standing on God's words of promise and hope? If we aren't, then it's never too late, to walk over to His word and allow Him to place His promises of hope and peace within our hearts.

There Is a Remedy

Did you know that there is a remedy for heartache, pain and strife? Yes...and its name is Jesus Christ! Many times we can get frustrated, when the answers don't come as easily to our problems, as we would like them to. There can be days, when we feel like the sun has gone behind the clouds and remained there for a while. We seem to search for a cure to our circumstance but all we see before our face is always the same old problem.

I think the answer to our question isn't always found in seeking the cure to the problem but instead; finding the main source, that can become the complete remedy for our needs. In John 14:6a, it reads..."Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life;" So first of all, He becomes the way, that can lead us away from the dark moments in our lives. His pathway is already laid out before us; all we have to do is walk in the direction that He's leading us in. Second, He becomes the truth and His truth becomes the light that can reveal and alert us to the works of Satan. As His light is shed, to reveal all the hidden traps of evil; His words of truth give us the freedom we need, to walk away from our circumstance. Finally, He becomes the life that lives within us. His spirit rises with wings of love, to become our strength and stability, so we can keep pressing forward in life.

To me, the remedy resembles the main root of all things. Just as the entire root of a plant needs to stay intact, so the plant can grow properly; we too, need to not allow our relationship with God to deteriorate, so we can allow His ways to always be a remedy for us that will lead us down the right pathway. When we are deeply connected to God, during difficult moments in our lives, then we are also connected to His pathway, His truth, and His life. His life has already become the complete remedy for our soul, through His death on the cross. When we have His benefits flowing within us, then we also have the complete source or remedy that can walk us out of despair.

There Is Someone Who Cares

Our illnesses and depression will not only allow us to feel pain and despair but they can also allow us to feel lonely and distant from people in our lives. We can be going through a difficult time in our life that others just don't seem to understand. We can begin to feel as though we are living in a world of our own; where we feel isolated from others who enjoy good health.

As I grew up with my knee problems; I grew up with 2 brothers and a sister. I was the only one in my family with the congenital knee problem. As I began to experience a few, of the many knee surgeries, that I would have to go through; I found myself beginning to feel distant, in some way, from my family and friends because they either didn't understand what I was going through or they were just so caught up in their own lives, that they didn't seem to take the time to care.

The world of a person living with chronic pain and depression and even grief can be difficult and lonely, since others around them have not experienced the depth of the problem. Tonight, as I was reading in God's word; I found a few Bible verses that I have used a lot in my life and they are found in Psalm 142:3-5, which reads..."When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou newest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. (4) I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. (5) I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." We can find ourselves looking around; just for someone to care and understand our need. There may be times when we just feel so alone in our disability or depression, that we can barely stand it any longer. We need to remember that God is a friend that will never walk out on us. He already cares and has become a God to us that looks for the need, instead of the problem.

When we think about it; we really aren't alone, when we have God in our lives. We may just have to take more time with God, so that the empty voids in our lives can be filled with His presence. Over the years; I have found God to be a friend that will love me...a friend that I can trust...a friend that will listen to my broken heart and most of all, a friend that will hold me in His loving arms, so that I never have to feel emptiness in my life again. Maybe we all need to look up to God more, instead of always looking around us. Once we find Him, as a friend that is filled with promises of hope, then our lives will once more feel complete.

No Matter Where We Are...God Is There

Our circumstances can take us to a place, where all we feel is the depth of our pain and heartache. We can feel as though God can't find us and know what we may be going through for the moment but He can. Psalms139:8-10 reads..."If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." As Christians, we have the reassurance that God's comforting spirit is with us, no matter where we are in life. Because His spirit lives within us, we are never separated from His presence.

In our minds, the circumstance seems to dictate our thinking and Satan uses these moments of weakness to make us believe things that aren't so. This is what makes him the "deceiver". He takes the moments of despair and whispers words in our ears that allow us to feel as though we have lost touch with God. Romans 8:38-39 reads..."For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, no depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." So...pain can't separate us, nor grief, nor any other thing can separate us, from the love that God has for us.

When we are deeply focused on God, while going through an overwhelming moment in our life, we will find that the circumstance no longer dictates the way we think and the power of evil is no longer present. Instead, we hear comforting words of truth, as we talk to God and read His word and His words of truth free us from the side effects of evil, while we find ourselves experiencing God's presence even closer to us.

Reflecting on God's Power

As we enter the middle of a week, sometimes we find that we need God even more, than when we first began the week. We have climbed a hill between Monday and Wednesday and now we are heading down, as we lean on God to continue to walk us through the week.

God is the One who will go before us and will look at the crooked pathways, that may have been formed recently and He will make the pathways straighter. He is the God who will take darkness and allow all the hidden areas of evil to be seen, as His light shines down upon us. When we concentrate on the awesome power of God, then our minds become distracted from the weight of whatever we may be experiencing for the moment.

On a clear night; have you looked up into the heavens, as each star begins to dance before it's maker? Each star is suspended by the most powerful being and will only fall at His command. Have you seen the beautiful artistic work, of a God who reveals Himself through golden colors in the sky? What about each raindrop that falls...could they be tears from Heaven, as God weeps with us, while going through overwhelming moments in our lives? Each time I look at a mountain, I see and feel the power of One so majestic and tall. As each tree whips in the wind; I think that even the tree is praising God. Could it be His breath that blows through the trees and allows us to feel refreshed? The power that is within the hands of One so true; controls all living things.

What if we were to concentrate on His power, instead of our problem? If He can suspend a star in space, and with one spoken word; cause the star to fall to the earth, then isn't His power great enough for our needs? I always think of God, with a control stick in His hand. As He longs to fulfill each loving desire for our lives; He moves the stick to the desired place in time. Our problems can make God seem weaker, than the moments, when we aren't experiencing a circumstance but when our focus shifts to the ways of God, we will begin to feel the most powerful God at work in our lives, as the circumstance begins to slowly fade out of view.

Weakness Is the Beginning of New Strength

Our circumstances can take us to a place, where we continually wonder, why this or why that has to happen to us but we must remember that these moments of pain and heartache aren't here to take us down but rather, it's God's way of lifting us up from this earthly standing, to a place where we can experience His power, as we grow and rise above our weaknesses.

We can feel troubled and the feelings that accompany our distress can allow us to feel like all hope is gone but yet we still live and thrive every day. We may feel the symptoms of our pain and heartache but these are just symptoms, they aren't the disease that can destroy us. We can feel isolated and alone but yet we aren't destroyed.

For every circumstance we experience; we are connected to the life of Christ. We as humans have trouble relating to these truths because we have become too attached to the thinking of man, which only leads us further down into despair.

Our circumstances can allow us to feel as though the next step in our lives could be death but when we view our circumstances through God's eyes, then we see that the death of a circumstance, is a means of chipping away, one more attachment to the world we live in, so that we may connect even closer to God. In II Corinthians 4:11, 12, it reads..."For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (12) so then death worketh in us, but life in you." These verses are helping us to understand that we are always going to go through something in life but at the same time, it's not for nothing but instead, it's so we may gain more of Christ and less of ourselves and this world we live in. When we experience a difficult circumstance, we have a choice to make. We can either allow the circumstance to have power over us or we can allow the power of God to lift us above the circumstance.

Without realizing it; are we viewing our circumstance, in a way that is causing us to plummet further down? We may feel like the full weight of the problem is pushing us further down but when we allow God, to become greater than the power we see in our circumstance, then we will be able to find God's sustainment and hope once more.

God Is Closest When We Feel Distant From Him

There are times when our circumstances can allow us to feel distant from God. The problem can seem so great, that we begin to feel as though God is in the background, instead of close beside us. Even though God may seem distant for the moment, actually this is the time when God is the closest to us. In Psalm 34:18a it reads..."The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking..."

When I was going through counseling for sexual abuse, my situation at the time began to feel like a huge mountain and all I saw from day to day was this huge mountain of pain and heartache. As each session of counseling began to feel more difficult to handle; I decided to memorize a verse each time, before going to a counseling session; that way I would have God's promises of hope to lean on, when I couldn't deal with the pain. One day, as I was looking for a verse to take with me, I found this verse in Psalm 34:18a. As I sat on the side of the bed, with a heart that was so broken, I began to read and reread this verse to myself. It became a message to my heart; as though God was letting me know that He was there for me. The part of the verse that touched me the most, was when it said..."The Lord is close...". I began to feel as though I had a close friend, that would walk through this time with me and be the comfort that I needed.

We may be walking down a long, dark and lonely pathway right now and we may be feeling as though no one cares or could ever understand the moments we are experiencing. Just remember one thing...God is close to those whose hearts are breaking. After this verse began to sink deep within my spirit; I began to feel as though God was even closer, at the time that I needed Him the most, in comparison to other times in the past. I began to feel His arms reaching out to me, as though He was welcoming me to a place where I could seek refuge during the painful ordeal of my life.

Since those moments, almost 15 years ago; He has always proved Himself faithful and close, at times when I needed Him. Now I talk to Him and He speaks to my spirit and I know that I never need to feel alone in any painful moment of my life again.

He Was There All the Time

God has a way of stepping in at the right moment and the right time. This weekend, I experienced the most powerful God at work around me. This was a moment, when I was tired and couldn't see the problem that could have become a big mistake. Instead, God walked right on in and whispered within my spirit, to check something out and when I did; He brought to light, the error that could have been disastrous. He not only stepped in and showed me the problem but He also showed me how to fix the problem.

God isn't just there for us, when we have a moment of need. He's also there for the moments we can't see; that is, if we are willing to hear His voice of warning. When we are walking in line with God, then He will look out for the obstacles that can end up as failures in our lives. Satan is out there; setting up traps, as he attempts to bring us down but if we are open to the voice of God, then He will warn us and let us know where the trap could cause us harm, so we can safely walk away. The question is; are we listening for His voice or are we more in tune to ourselves and our own ways that tend to clutter and get in the way of God's warnings?

As I was getting around this evening, I was thinking about all He has done for me and as I began to sing; He placed these words within my heart..."Jesus is a friend that will step on in; just to make a life brand new." What love! When we can't see the danger that is approaching us...He does and at the moment when it could hurt us, He steps on in and becomes a shield to protect us from the danger, while He whispers words of comfort and hope, that will release us from the problem all together. He doesn't have to do that for us but He does because His love for us is so great.

Are we too busy in our day, that we find ourselves more tuned into ourselves instead of God? When He lives within us; He not only becomes our savior but our protector too!

No Uncertainties with God

We may be living in unsettled moments right now. We may be living paycheck to paycheck or we don't know if we may have our job tomorrow or our health may be causing us to live with uncertainties but with Jesus we don't have to face the uncertainties alone. When we have Jesus in our lives, we don't have to doubt or dread anything that may be trying to get in our way because He is there to take full control.

While facing these uncertain moments in our lives, we can feel like we are standing out on the roughest sea, while the fear and doubt of the storm tries to hit us, as the waves billow up around us but when we call on the name of Jesus; the power of His name alone will become an anchor to hold to, while the storm attempts to knock us down. As He becomes our anchor; we find that we can settle back, while holding tightly to the hand of Jesus. Instead of living with the uncertainties of life; we can live with the certainty, that Jesus will hold our hand and ride the storm out with us, until the storm ceases.

One of my favorite Bible verses that illustrates this, is in Psalm 112:7-8, which reads..."He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes." and John 14:18 says..."No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm; I will come to you."

If we aren't leaning on Jesus, during these uncertain moments in our lives, then all He died for becomes in vain. His word isn't just a story we read; his word is full of promises and one of the promises that He has made to us is that He would never abandon us, during these difficult and uncertain moments in our lives.

We need to take our eyes off of the raging sea and start holding tight to the anchor of our soul, which is Jesus Christ and when the storm has ceased; He will be there to walk us to shore, where He will once more place us on a pathway that is led by Him alone.

In this day that we live in; we all are going through one thing or another but we can live with a settled feeling, instead of doubt and fear, when we know who's in control.

Do We Lack God's Everlasting Peace?

How often do our thoughts turn to God, while going through a trying circumstance? Could we be lacking in strength because we are trying to gain strength, while becoming more focused on our circumstance instead of God? When we become tightly fixed on our circumstance, then it's as if we are trying to find strength and hope from the circumstance, even if it doesn't seem that way at the time. Whatever we seek after; this is what we will reap in the end.

Isaiah 26:3,4 reads..."He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength." Are we lacking, when it comes to God's everlasting strength or peace? Is the strength and peace we're experiencing only here for a moment, while frustration and anxiety begins to move in and take their place?

The other day, I was thinking about God's strength, in comparison to ours. Whatever our own strength is; it's nothing, in comparison to the strength we can obtain from God. God's strength is everlasting, so when we truly are experiencing His strength, then His strength becomes an ongoing strength. Everlasting means forever, so if we are connected to God, while going through our problems in life, then we have a strength that goes on and on and on. Have you ever experienced a moment in your life, when you felt like you just couldn't go on anymore; but yet you did? To me, this is a person who is experiencing the everlasting strength of God. If we were to experience a down moment without His strength, then we would probably just give up or give in to the problem. There have been moments in my own life, when I've gotten up for the day and thought...oh my...I've got all of this to do and I had a rough night of pain but then I say to God..."You're going to have to be my strength today because I have nothing left"; I find myself doing things throughout my day, that I never felt I would be able to accomplish and by the end of the day, I'm thanking God for His great strength. I notice that when I'm focused on God, even throughout a difficult situation and I'm more willing to accept God's strength, instead of my weakness, that I truly do experience the powerful presence of God.

The same goes for peace. When we are having restless moments in our lives, we can either remain in that condition or we can rise above the despair and humbly ask for God's perfect peace...a peace that sustains and places our hearts and minds at rest with Him.

Is our thoughts more on God or on the circumstance? Whatever we experience for the day, will give us the answer to that question. The important thing to remember, while going through difficult moments, is to remain focused on our powerful God, instead of the weak circumstance, that will continue to make us weaker.

Christ Understands the Difficult Roads

There may be times when we feel all alone in our circumstances. We can begin to feel as though each circumstance in our lives has become a brick that over time, has built a wall around us, where we feel imprisoned only by our needs. One thing that will help us, during the tough times, is to remember that Jesus traveled this pathway, even before we began to experience problems in our own lives. He was the One who paved the road, that we now walk on.

We can have days, when we feel as though no one could ever understand the pain that stirs deep within our hearts. We may not have a friend or someone close by who can understand our needs but Jesus can. Jesus knows heartache because He was rejected and spit upon. Jesus knows pain and suffering because He was beaten and nailed to a cross. He even knows loneliness, as He walked to Mt. Calvary; as the people who once longed for His presence, wanted Him to die.

Jesus has painted a picture for us, through salvation. He not only showed us His love through His death but through a heart that understands and cares. Hebrews 2:18 reads..."For since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and he is wonderfully able to help us."

When we feel alone and no one wants to hear the cries of our hearts; Jesus will. He will become the greatest counselor that will always allow us to feel sheltered and protected, while the storm is stirring in our heart. He will listen with a mind of understanding and His heart of love and care will wrap around us, until He knows that we are alright.

Throughout the years of pain and heartache; I've come to know Jesus as my physician, when I'm sick and hurting. He has become the greatest counselor that I could ever talk too. He has become my prince of all peace, when I can't sleep or something is weighing heavy on my mind. He is the God that cradles me in His arms of love, during moments of heartache and pain and most of all; He's the King of my life; the One who becomes a shield of defense, against the evil one.

He died to save us from our sins and to show us His love but He's also there for us in many other ways. He's already standing before us, with arms outstretched; all we have to do is walk into them. I pray that we all will find comfort today; knowing that God can be everything to us!

Positive Thinking Brings Us a Victory

Today I was reminded of a song that always has helped me to never give up on life. The song goes a little like this..."Always triumphant...always victorious; though the storms of life may say that hope is gone. Always triumphant...always victorious; thanks be to God who causes us to triumph."

Our day to day struggles can be sending us a message of defeat. We can feel as though the problem is swallowing us up and our thoughts are going right with the problem but one thing we tend to forget, is that God cannot be defeated. Everything has to end victorious with God, whether it seems that way right now or not.

If we could become more attached to the thought, that my God isn't a defeated God, then we would find a renewed hope to hold too. Jesus has shown us in His word, that He is a victorious, overcoming God, while being tempted in the wilderness, for 40 days and 40 nights. He became victorious over the cross and arose the third day, with the keys of hell and death in His hands, so why would He fail us now?

The storms that we endure in this life can cause us to become so caught up into the height of the wave that's heading our direction; that we forget that God is greater than any wave or thunderbolt of circumstance. We may not see the results right now but we must continue to remember that the hope He gives us each day, is that this too shall pass.

We need to cling to the positive thoughts of truth that God has given to us, as a strong anchor to hold too. If we can say to ourselves..."well I had a rough day but I know that there will be an end to this problem", then we will find God's promises, to be a safe haven away from the thoughts that can sink us deep within the storm. I pray that we all will find renewed hope in God today...knowing that our God will never fail us.

Author Diane K Hiltz Chamberlain

Diane's Bio

I was raised in a small town in Michigan and was born with a congenital problem in both knees. I went through many surgeries, trying to correct the problem but there was never really a cure. Little did I know; that God had "branded" me at birth, for such a moment as this. Many in this world grow up and go to school or college, to get their education but that's not what God had in store for me. My education for writing came from twenty-one painful knee surgeries, heartache from sexual abuse as a child, and the loss of many things in my life, including the loss of children. As each painful moment came and as each loving desire left, God was taking all the brokenness in my life, and He was piecing it together, so I could have the heart He desired...a heart that could understand and care, for others, who live in despair.

As of this year, I have ministered to those in need, for over 12 years and God continues to open new doors for me to walk through. Now, I am serving God full-time, as I continue to reach out to others in need, through my writings and the Diane K Chamberlain Ministry. One thing that God has taught me over the years; is that no matter what we lose out on or experience in life; He will always be there to pick up the broken pieces and fill the empty voids in our lives. At the most difficult and heartbreaking moments of my life, I have come to see; that God never abandons His own but rather, He exchanges the painful moments, for the true plan He has, for each of our lives.

Visit Diane at Risen Hope Ministries – http://www.risenhopeministries.com

