Tag: God

Let’s Roll

I was recently reading a book, Found: God’s Will, by John MacArthur, Jr., and was struck by a passage near the end of the book. He describes what he calls a crucial principle for seeing your desires come to pass:

Image courtesy of Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Imagine trying to steer and change the direction of a stationary tractor-truck. Tough assignment. It would take huge cranes and chains to even budge it. But once rolling, a truck weighing 36,000 pounds is not difficult to control.” 

Are  you hoping for your desires to come to pass but haven’t taken any action on them? Have you asked God for wisdom and direction in pursuing those desires?

Mr. MacArthur goes on to say that when God takes over the steering wheel of our lives with His strong (loving) arms, things happen a lot easier. “God likes to use people who are already moving.”

Are you establishing a pattern of persistence, taking steps of faith to get rolling so God can steer you toward the good He has planned for you?

Let’s roll so that our persistence will lead us to and through the open doors of opportunity, joy, and abundance.

Focus Friday

Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!

“Those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever.” ~Psalm 125:1

Image courtesy of Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Memorial Day 2013

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today, across the United States, people are remembering

those who served in America’s military and lost their life in battle.

I’m especially thankful for those who, through the centuries,

paid the ultimate price for our freedom,

gave the ultimate sacrifice for our liberty,

and provided the ultimate blessing…a nation that is STILL under God and indivisible.

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9  [NLT]

Boston

Boston Skyline Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Boston Skyline
Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Because of the tragedy of the bombings at the Boston Marathon this week, I’m posting the 91st Psalm to encourage you today. It is a psalm about trusting in the protection God provides for us so that there is no need to be overcome by fear.

Psalm 91 [Amplified Bible]

He who [a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Focus Friday

Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!

“For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.” Psalm 91:3 [NLT]

Image courtesy of Surachai  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Surachai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Resurrect Your Hope

Photo courtesy of GodlyWomanDaily.co
Photo courtesy of GodlyWomanDaily.co

Easter has passed but resurrection is still on my mind. Watching The Bible TV miniseries gave me some new insights about the love and ministry of Jesus. One of them is about hope.

After Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross for everyone in the world (even the unborn), He did not just leave an empty tomb as proof that He had risen. He chose to once again demonstrate His love for us by presenting “Himself to them [believers] and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3 NIV). Jesus did not want to leave His followers wondering what happened once they saw that His tomb was empty. He wanted to convince them that He indeed had risen for the justification [freedom from guilt and the penalty of sin] of all who choose to believe in Him! Two thousand years later, we can live in that freedom because of Jesus’ resurrection.

What does that have to do with hope? Well, I think Jesus stayed on earth so long after His death because He wanted to make sure that those who believed in Him had not lost hope. Some may have lost hope because Jesus did not become the reigning King of Israel as they had envisioned Him. Others may have believed the Pharisees account of grave robbers having come to steal the body and lost hope that Jesus was really their Messiah.  Jesus wanted to assure the believers that He indeed had risen so He patiently took time to show Himself to many so that we, two thousand years later could believe and have hope in Him.

If you’ve lost hope for something in your life, maybe for having a baby, or advancing on your job, or overcoming a debilitating illness, RESURRECT your hope! Bring your hope back to life by finding a promise of God that relates to your situation. Believe that the promise is true for you. If you find it hard to believe, ask God to help you believe it (Mark 9:24). Then speak that promise and expect it to manifest in your life. You’ll have to be persistent in speaking that promise…your enemy, the devil, will do all he can to distract you from believing and speaking it with confidence. Despite that, continue to thank God that His promise for you is sure and worthy of your trust. Rest assured, your hope will be renewed and your confidence increased as you take a stand on the promises of God.

FREE PDF of fertility bible verses:

March Madness

Image found at espn.com/bracket
Image found at espn.com/bracket

I enjoy watching basketball games. It was especially fun to watch when my 2 sons played at the YMCA and later for their high school teams. Whenever the college basketball tournament, known as March Madness, rolls around, I get excited. At the very beginning of the 3-week tournament, I print out the bracket sheet that shows all the team match-ups.  I like to use it to predict (more like guess!) who’ll be the winner of each game and the overall champion at the end. It’s fun, especially when my husband and children develop their own bracket sheet to predict winners because we can compare who made the best guesses as the tournament progresses. Of course, whatever we predict at the beginning does not have to necessarily come to pass by the end of the tournament.

This is slightly similar to how God does things. He declares the end of things from the very beginning, except of course, what He says ALWAYS comes to pass, it is not a guess. Isaiah 46:9, 10 states, “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.'”

I’m grateful we can count on God’s ability to always perform what He has promised. His words are power-filled and He has spoken so that we can experience his best. His faithfulness is truly a blessing for which to be thankful because He has made a way, through Jesus,  for every believer to be a champion in life by maintaining confidence in His promises and predictions.

What promises of God do you declare and count on Him to perform on your behalf?

Focus Friday

Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  Psalm 91:1

Image courtesy of Dr Joseph Valks / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Dr Joseph Valks / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Focus Friday

Image courtesy of Pgraur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Pgraur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!

 “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” ~~Psalm 56:3

5 Bible Verses Every Infertile Woman Needs To Know

Infertile woman addresses the spiritual aspect of infertility
Photo courtesy of Microsoft Images

Shouldn’t every infertile woman address the spiritual aspect of infertility?

If you are struggling with infertility, you know what a hopeless situation it can become, if  you let it. When I dealt with it, I found the best source of hope was the Bible. It contains numerous scriptures that pertain directly to infertility. It also gives many accounts of women who were once barren/infertile/childless but became a mother, all because they trusted God to be true to His Word.

I’ve said it before, Infertility Sucks! But I know firsthand that it can be overcome. Here are five verses that I meditated on and repeatedly used as verbal affirmations, putting my name in each scripture. I think you’ll find them to be great sources of HOPE.

Deuteronomy 7:14 [NKJV] ~ “You shall be blessed above all people; there shall not be male or female barren among you.”

Isaiah 50:7 [NKJV] ~ “For the Lord God will help me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.”

Leviticus 26:9 [Amplified Bible] ~ “For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you and establishing and ratifying my covenant with you.”

Hebrews 11:11 [NLT] ~ “It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.”

Luke 1:37 ~ “For with God NOTHING shall be impossible.”

Are there other scriptures in which you find hope? Please share them below so that others can be encouraged.