The holidays and end of year is upon us. This has been an unusual year for our family. We've had some glorious times. However, this has also been a very difficult and challenging year as well.
Life can be glorious. Life can be hard. I think of our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without our son. They say the firsts are always the hardest, but I would question that. I recall Thanksgiving the second year as being almost too much to bear. This will be our eleventh season without our son.
This morning I was reading Psalm 84. "How blessed are those who make Your house their home, who live with You; they are constantly praising You. Blessed are those who make You their strength, tor they treasure every step of the journey (to Zion). On their way through the valley of Baca (weeping) they stop and dig wells to collect the refreshing spring water, and the early rains fill the pools. They journey from place to place, gaining strength along the way; until they meet God in Zion."
Did you notice how blessed one is whose strength is drawn from the Lord, who dwell with Him, who walk through the valley (not around it, through it)? They are the ones who find refreshment. Refreshment: "The process of being rested and regaining strength or energy." It doesn't just happen. We must dwell with the Lord.
The valley of weeping is that place of anguish, loneliness, heartache, loss, that we experience as we go through this pilgrimage of life. Some seasons are harder than others and completely exhausts us to walk through them.
I want to encourage your heart as one who has walked and is walking and will continue, Lord willing, to walk through the valley, to keep walking!
Those verses promise the blessing of strength when we remain in fellowship with our Lord. Draw from His well. How do we do that? Stay in His Word - keep reading it. Pour out your heart to Him. Listen: Jesus was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He knows your pain, your heartache.
Our difficult days will find fresh springs of living, life giving water through Jesus. The first part of this chapter talks of yearning, even fainting and crying out for the living God. Desperation should lead us to the living God. Also, when you are in the difficult valley, don't waste it. Use it. Help someone else going through a difficulty. They need encouragement and comfort too.
Let me encourage you today through the words of Scripture. God is your Strength, your Refuge, your Helper through the holidays and in the year to come. Whatever it may bring, "Blessed is the one who trusts in You: (Psalm 84:12)
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Friday, November 8, 2019
Heavy Hearted
This morning I woke up feeling so burdened by issues going on in the world, in the church, in my friends lives, and in my family. I'm hurting for so many. Hurting to the place where I want to help "fix" things. And yet, it all seems so out-of-control!
What is the answer? The answer has always been and will always be the same. However, the world is not choosing this answer. The world is so power hungry and bent on pride. Pride will always be a downfall. Pride brings disgrace, breeds quarrels, and proceeds destruction, (per Proverbs).
There is a spirit of arrogance infiltrating our government, our denominations and our homes. He's riding on the backs of many, building up themselves and their beliefs. The ones who allow this spirit of arrogance to use them become their own gods. It's easy to become your own god; just do what you want to and believe what you want without any regard to God or His Word. Or, the Word can be taken and misinterpreted to fit the needs or wants of the interpreter. This is happening in our churches worldwide and locally. When God's laws no longer fit a lifestyle or a community, the laws are attempted to be changed to fit our culture. I laughed when I wrote that last sentence. Psalms says that God's Word stands firm in the heavens, it is eternal. Pride and arrogance makes one feel like they can change this. And God laughs, (Psalm 2:4) "But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming," (Psalm 37:13).
I'm seeing those who were strong in the faith turning their heads and looking at other options. Their beliefs are changing to fit their desires and their wills. What a dangerous place to be.
Families are breaking up because one of the members wanted their own way and relinquished their commitment, hurting all involved and causing chaos especially where children are involved.
This all hurts the heart of God. He has all the answers. Yet, few are going to Him for the answers. This sadly is Biblical. You know the gate Jesus talked about in Matthew seven was wide for those going to destruction and this is the way most will choose. The gate is narrow for those choosing the way of real, true life through Jesus - only a few find this way. So probably nothing I could write is going to "fix" anything. It just helps me vent, see more clearly, and realize how desperately I need to be on my knees praying for this lost world and my lost people.
When was the last time, or ever a time, that we have been so burdened by the lost that we wept for them on our knees and brought them before God? Intercession is a hard work. There will be spiritual warfare to keep us from doing this. I have experienced this. The enemy is out on a rampage, as the Bible says he will be in the last of the last days, and he does not want the saints praying at all. He wants them to backslide, and fall away, and have unbelief, and misinterpret the Word and the times. He's doing a good job.
Prayer is hard work and too many of us are being neglectful or we are only speaking surface prayers. Jesus said to go into our rooms and close the door......shut out the world, and pray.
It will change us. It can change the world.
About my being burdened: In our ladies Bible study I'm supposed to be memorizing these verses; "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). I'm going to get right on that!
Funny, this is not at all what I intended to write about when I began writing this morning. Maybe it's what God wanted written, for me to adhere to and for someone else perhaps. The other blog will have to wait.
What is the answer? The answer has always been and will always be the same. However, the world is not choosing this answer. The world is so power hungry and bent on pride. Pride will always be a downfall. Pride brings disgrace, breeds quarrels, and proceeds destruction, (per Proverbs).
There is a spirit of arrogance infiltrating our government, our denominations and our homes. He's riding on the backs of many, building up themselves and their beliefs. The ones who allow this spirit of arrogance to use them become their own gods. It's easy to become your own god; just do what you want to and believe what you want without any regard to God or His Word. Or, the Word can be taken and misinterpreted to fit the needs or wants of the interpreter. This is happening in our churches worldwide and locally. When God's laws no longer fit a lifestyle or a community, the laws are attempted to be changed to fit our culture. I laughed when I wrote that last sentence. Psalms says that God's Word stands firm in the heavens, it is eternal. Pride and arrogance makes one feel like they can change this. And God laughs, (Psalm 2:4) "But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming," (Psalm 37:13).
I'm seeing those who were strong in the faith turning their heads and looking at other options. Their beliefs are changing to fit their desires and their wills. What a dangerous place to be.
Families are breaking up because one of the members wanted their own way and relinquished their commitment, hurting all involved and causing chaos especially where children are involved.
This all hurts the heart of God. He has all the answers. Yet, few are going to Him for the answers. This sadly is Biblical. You know the gate Jesus talked about in Matthew seven was wide for those going to destruction and this is the way most will choose. The gate is narrow for those choosing the way of real, true life through Jesus - only a few find this way. So probably nothing I could write is going to "fix" anything. It just helps me vent, see more clearly, and realize how desperately I need to be on my knees praying for this lost world and my lost people.
When was the last time, or ever a time, that we have been so burdened by the lost that we wept for them on our knees and brought them before God? Intercession is a hard work. There will be spiritual warfare to keep us from doing this. I have experienced this. The enemy is out on a rampage, as the Bible says he will be in the last of the last days, and he does not want the saints praying at all. He wants them to backslide, and fall away, and have unbelief, and misinterpret the Word and the times. He's doing a good job.
Prayer is hard work and too many of us are being neglectful or we are only speaking surface prayers. Jesus said to go into our rooms and close the door......shut out the world, and pray.
It will change us. It can change the world.
About my being burdened: In our ladies Bible study I'm supposed to be memorizing these verses; "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). I'm going to get right on that!
Funny, this is not at all what I intended to write about when I began writing this morning. Maybe it's what God wanted written, for me to adhere to and for someone else perhaps. The other blog will have to wait.
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