TODAY'S PROMISE

"But when I am afraid,

I will put my trust in you.

I Praise God for what he has promised.

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

What can mere mortals do to me?" 

(Psalms 56:3,4 NLT)

TODAY'S QUOTE

"He demonstrated that one can trust

the God of the Bible for every need,

whether temporal or spiritual."  

- Brother Bakht Singh of India

p.24.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"We know how much God loves us;

and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love

live in God, and God lives in them."  

-1 John 4:16 NLT

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Greed causes fighting;

trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.

Those who trust their own insight are

foolish, but anyone who walks in 

wisdom is safe."  

(Proverbs 28:25,26 NLT)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.

He gives us grace and glory.

The LORD will withhold no good thing 

from those who do what is right.

O LORD of Heaven's Armies,

what joy for those who trust in you."

(Psalms 84:11,12 NLT)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Trust in the LORD and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it."

(Psalms 37:3-5 NASB)

GOD KNOWS BEST

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GOD KNOWS BEST.

Last night as I was getting ready for bed God brought

a number of decisions and directions I have taken to 

mind and do you know what?   God knows best.

Bear in mind that now I am an old man looking back

over the past.  I think that some of these can be an 

encouragement to you.  There are two verses of Scripture 

that I have often had to think of and now see in a new

light.  Consider them before we proceed.

"The mind of man plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps."

"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord,

How then can man understand his way?"

(Proverbs 16:9 & 20:24 NASB)

These plans or decisions will be listed more by

subject than by time or order.

As a much younger, single man I was obviously 

looking for a wife.  I remember in particular two

ladies that I thought the world revolved around.

(One at the time.) It hurt, but neither of them

worked out.

Now, many years latter as I have watched their

lives it is obvious that had I married either one of 

them, I would have been hurt real bad.

And better yet,  God clearly gave me direction

latter as who to marry.  Yep!  Time has proven

that I got the best wife in the world.

On the matter of property.

When I moved into this area I wanted out in the

country with at least 40 acres.

Well, it did not work out that way.

I ended up with God clearly indicating that I was

to get this little place.  It is only an acre and half.

At least it is out of town.

Do you know what?

Time has proven that it was the best thing for me

even thought it was not want I thought I wanted.

Again on property.

A number of years ago I wanted a hideout in the

country.  A place to go hide from the noise

and confusion in this area.  Things have built up

a great deal here since I bought it over forty years

ago.  So a patch of woods to go hide in for a few

hours or days.  Perhaps just camp in, but away 

people and noise.

I had decided to go after tax property, that is 

property the state had up for sale for taxes.

There were several that I had my heart set on.

As you can figure, I was out bid on every one.

But in desperation I went after one that no one

wanted.

Got it.  It was just a little run down place of 

only a little over three acres of woods, way 

out in the country.  But for several reasons I

have had reason to thank God many times that I

was allowed to get this one rather than the ones

I thought I wanted.

One more. Living conditions.

My living conditions are not what I would have

chosen.  I would have chose a different location,

different housing, and different relationships.

But, guess what?  God knew best.

I have had to spend several years getting use

to things being nicer than I would have chose.

And with advance age and sickness etc. it has

proven to be much more beneficial to me than

had I had my way.  And no, I am not in a

rest home in town.

PRAISE GOD.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He will make your paths straight."

(Proverbs 3:5,6 NASB)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"And those who know Your name

will put their trust in You,

For You, O LORD, have not 

forsaken those who seek You."

(Psalms 9:10 NASB)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"And those who know Your name will put their trust

in You,  For You O LORD, have not forsaken those

who see You."  

(Psalms 9:10)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

(Proverbs 11:28 NASB)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

(Proverbs 3:5,6 NASB)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"The fear of man brings a snare,

But he who trusts in the Lord

will be exalted." 

(Proverbs 29:25 NASB)

A SHORT MEDITATION

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

he bestows favor and honor,

No good thing does the Lord withhold

from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts

blessed is the man who trust in thee!"

(Psalms 84:11,12 RSV)

Do you want God's blessing on your life?

The answer is in the above Scripture.

Observe it is when God is "Lord" in our life.

Three times we see the necessity of God 

being "Lord" in our life.  If we have 

submitted to God allowing him to be our 

"Lord"and follow his instructions  then the 

blessing follow; 

i.e.,

God's favor and honor.

God will not keep any good thing from us.

And if we trust him, rather than our selves,

then his blessing will be on us.

LOOKING FOR PEACE

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Are you looking for peace, real peace?

It is available - if you search in the right place.

God offers you a real genuine,

heart felt peace.

  "You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed

on You, 

Because he trust in You."

(Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

Put your mind on God and trust in him,

and you will have peace.

Keep your mind on yourself,

and you will still be troubled.

WAITING FOR HELP

(Images courtesy of:www.Pixabay.com)

"I said, 'I have worked, but how hopeless

it is!  I have used up my strength, but have

accomplished nothing'.

Yet I can trust the Lord to defend my cause;

he will reward me for what I do."

(Isaiah 49:4 GNT)

Then God said,

"Then you will know that I am the Lord;

no one who waits for my help will be

disappointed."

(Isaiah 49:23b GNT)

RECIPE FOR PEACE AND CONTENTMENT

Many years ago one of the greatest kings of all
time; and a man who was pleasing to God gave
us the path to peace and contentment.
he said,

"Lord, I have given up my pride and 
turned away from my arrogance.

I am not concerned with great matters

or with subjects too difficult for me.

Instead, I am content and at peace.

As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms,

so my heart is quiet within me.

Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever!"

(Psalms 131 GNT)

WHEN THE WAY SEEMS DARK

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One morning  I woke up excessively tired from the day before.

I had lost all enthusiasm for the day, though I had been looking

forward to it.  It was like "What's the use?"  Even coffee did not

help.

Particularly heavy on my mind during this period is the realization 

that the world we live in has completely gone insane.  It seems that

evil is gaining the upper hand on every front.  Even though I knew

this time was coming.  Over two thousand years ago God let us 

know that this evil time was coming and that it is going to get even

worse.  That is one of the reasons I left were I was living and moved

here over forty years ago.

Also I know that God tests our faith with various trials.  As well,

as use trials and hardships to strengthen our faith.  But still I was

not bubbling over with joy.

Then I read this verse that spoke volumes to me.

"All of you that honor the Lord

and obey the words of his servant,

the path you walk may be dark indeed,

but trust in the Lord,

rely on your God."

(Isaiah 50:10 GNT)

Yes, things may be dark and dreary in the world and in our
life.  But hang on to God's hand and he will lead us through
it.

RENEW YOUR STRENGTH

I want to share my experience with you hoping it can be
an encouragement to you.

I have what they call "Aplastic Anemia".   My body just plain
and simple quit making blood a little over a year ago.  God in
his mercy has allowed the medicines to help and my body
seems to be making some blood now.  But  I am still dependent
on frequent transfusions.

But it is "strength" that we want to consider right now.  I lost all
my strength with this sickness.  For a while I was so weak I could
not get out of my chair with out pulling on something or someone
helping me.  Of course any work was out of the question, period.

BUT -

God said,
"...they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,..."
-(Isaiah 40:31 RSV)

Some versions use the word "trust" instead of "wait".  Take your
choice.  And I would stress that I do not feel God gave me that as
a promise.  Simply, he said it.  And I tried to wait, trust, walk with
God looking for an increase in strength.

Strength was very slow in coming, if any at all.   So slow that I was
complaining to God about it.  But, a short time back I got more serious
with God over the issue.  You know, "God, where is this strength you
promised?"

Shortly after that inside of just a few days I felt like my old self.  Did
not feel sickly at all.  No I have not regained all my strength back - yet.

The image above is a garden bed I am working on.  You cannot see
how deep it is.  But what you see in it is old damp horse manure.  It
was loaded the other night and made my little old truck squat down
like a dog doing something on the lawn.  I had to drive home in only
the lower gears.   It was too heavy to get into one of the high gears.

The point I'm making.  Yesterday morning in about two hours I unloaded
that stuff, a shove full at a time, into that garden bed.  Yes, it pretty much
wore me out for the day.  But even two months ago I could not have
thought about doing that little bit.

It's God I'm thanking.    Have you lost your strength?  Turn to the one who
gives life and strength to start with.  Jesus Christ.  Get real close and know
him personally very well.  You will not be sorry.

TRUST

O.K!

So it's a shaggy old cat.  So what?

Yes, it's getting old and shaggy.  It leaves hair

all over the place.  I do not know how old it is.

But the wife and I were a whole lot younger 

when she came dragging it home.

But that's not the point.

Notice that it is asleep right in the middle of 

the floor.  That cat spends lots of time sleeping

right in the way - where we walk.

Why?

Because it has learned to trust us.  It knows

that we will not step on it intentionally.

It just simply trusts us.

That is what God wants us to do.

Just simply trust Him.

From one cover of the Bible to the other.

God asks us to TRUST Him.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

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

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit."

(Jeremiah17:7-9 NKJV)

"Therefore humble yourselves under the

mighty hand of God, that He may exalt

you in due time, 

casting all your care upon Him,

for He cares for you."

(1 PETER 5:6,7 NKJV)

PRAYER

Photo courtesy of sethsoasis.wordpress.com

"As for the 'prayer of faith' it is a simple thing.

It is talking to God as you would talk to your

own earthly father, with implicit trust in His love

for you and unfaltering confidence in His personal

concern for your welfare.  It is knowing in your

heart what you say with your lips."

Emily Gardiner Neal

in

God Can Heal You Now

p. 191