Tag: Christian blog devotional

Vintage Discovery: “A Soulful Melody” September 30, 2026

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I have been blogging for over 13 years. Throughout that time, I have published hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces and articles. Some you may have seen before; some you may not have.

They say sharing is caring, and in Vintage Discovery, I am using this space to share pre-published treasures that are old but may be new to you. I hope you find them just as insightful, encouraging, and a blessing as when they were first published.

Friend, do you have a song in your soul just bursting to get out? Let it! You don’t need special permission or a special occasion. Let His praises ring!

Come with me today, with a heart of rejoicing, as we revisit Sing! and let your soulful melody resound.

“And I saw as it were . . . them that had gotten the victory . . . and they sing the song.” Revelation 15:2-3

Songs.  Movements of the heart and soul.  I don’t know how they come about.  Do they start with words that won’t let the mind rest until the lyrics are expressed?  Or is it a tune, a melodious humming in one’s being that beckons to become more?

Songs come and go at any time, and there’s one for every occasion.  Most great songs come from one’s life experiences.  Whether in good times or bad, happy or sad, the inner man calls for a tune to join the ceremony.

Songs express joy and times of rejoicing.  A good song motivates us when it’s hard to move forward in life and lifts us out of sadness.  We see the power of this type of inspiring music in 1 Samuel 16:23, when David played the harp before Saul and the evil spirit left him.

Music is no doubt powerful.  The most precious and heartfelt songs come after times of hardship and struggle.  When we have gone through the wringer of life, made it to the other side, and have squeezed out a heart that expresses gratefulness to God.  Music that tells the world, yes, it was hard, but I made it to the other side.  After crossing the Red Sea, did not Miriam take a tambourine in her hand and say, “Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously” (Exodus 15:21)?

In Revelation, we see songs of deliverance going up before God.  They had overcome “the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having harps of God” (Rev. 15:2).  And what did they do?  “They sing!” (Rev. 15:3).  Their praises could not be constrained any longer.  They have never felt freer than when they had overcome.  That kind of joy starts to seep out of every crevice of one’s being until it pours out, overflowing in song, releasing praise to God!

Music and songs are written throughout the Bible.  The psalmist exhorts us to “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Ps. 100:1-2).  When the Assyrians were prophesied to be destroyed, Isaiah 30:29 emphatically declares, “Ye shall have a song!”  When Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises, the earth quaked, and prison doors were opened (Acts 16:25-26).  After the Last Supper, “they had sung a hymn” (Mk. 14:26).  James said, “Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (Ja. 5:13).

Sing!

Sing!

Sing!

I don’t have the best voice, but I have praise in my soul that I have to let out!

Sing!

I’m shy in front of other people, but I’m living to please an audience of one!  It doesn’t have to be in front of a crowd (yikes!).  Praise can wring out of your spirit at any time and in any place.

Just Sing!

Give your heart – your spirit – your soul permission to rejoice.  God has been so good to us – so, Sing!

You are an overcomer also.  “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

So, SING!

Those in Revelation had every right to sing, and so do you.  Just sing!  He’s worthy of it today.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

 

Vintage Discovery: “Just Know That You Are Held” September 23, 2026

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I have been blogging now for over 13 years. Throughout that time, I have published hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces and articles. Some you may have seen before, some you may not have.

They say sharing is caring, and in Vintage Discovery, I am using this space to share pre-published treasures that are old but may be new to you. I hope you find them just as insightful, encouraging, and a blessing as when they were first published.

Friends, if it looks like the world is spinning out of control, just know that you are held by God’s unmovable and unshakeable hands.

Come with me today as we revisit You Have Been Upheld Since Birth, and may your heart be encouraged no matter what you are facing today.

Blessings~

“By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” Psalm 71:6

As you look back over your life, is there ever a time when you know you should not have made it?  Is there a time when you recognize that it was only by the grace of God that you are still here today?

Yeah, me too.

Life has a way of throwing us many curve balls.  Sometimes we hit it, and sometimes we miss.  Sometimes we are even keen enough to get a home run, but other times we are just be grateful to still be in the game.  The fact that we are is a testimony to the love of the Father over us.  It is evident that He still has you and me in His hands and in His plan.

There are times that come that make it extremely hard for us to recognize this great truth.  Crushing times that weigh on us, making us believe that we are forgotten or that we are walking this path alone.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  God has always been with us.  God has always taken care of us.  God has always been the one holding on to us when our lives seem to be spinning out of control.

I find it utterly amazing that we have been upheld since birth.  Truth be told, Psalm 139:16 shows us that He was paying attention to us even before the time of our birth.  It says, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” 

Even before day 1 of our lives, God had His eye on us.

How awesome is that?

I find great comfort in verses like these because I realize that yes, I have gone through some very difficult and troubling times.  Yes, as I look back through the different stages of life, I wish some things could have been better, or I wish wrong choices could be undone.  But, despite all the “I wish I had…” or the “could have and should have,” these verses remind me that I never walked alone.

There was never a time in my life when God didn’t see me and didn’t see what I was going through.  There was never a time when He was absent.  He was there the whole time, reaching out for me and calling me with His love, beckoning me to stay in the safety of His arms and rest there.

God’s hands have always been us!

I don’t know what you may be facing today, but the Word of God is sure in all it promises. And His Word promises that you are not alone.

Yet, sometimes it does seem that way.  It seems like you cry and cry and cry some more, but I assure you, your tears do not fall on deaf ears.  As you cry, the one who has had His hands on you since birth feels the flow of your tears running over His hands as He holds you.  Stay right there in His loving embrace.

If you have to, turn back to Him and trust Him who has you in His hands today and wants to hold you forever.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Vintage Discovery: Sailing With Jesus September 16, 2026

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After blogging for over 13 years and writing hundreds, if not thousands, of articles, I am using this space, Vintage Discovery, to share pre-published treasures that are old but may be new to you. I hope you find them just as insightful, encouraging, and a blessing as when they were first published.

The storms of life can rise at any given moment. When they come, we are often left wondering what to do. While much advice circulates on how to navigate difficulties, one undeniable way to sail through the storms is to sail with Jesus.

Today, come with me as we revisit Getting to the Other Side With Jesus.

If you find yourself in a storm, don’t give up. Find comfort in the truth of Jesus sailing with you.

Getting to the other side- isn’t that what we all want to do?  All we want is to be on the opposite side of where we are now.  Standing on the edge of one shore with a whole mess of stormy ocean in between, all our hearts yearn to do is get through this mess safely and plant our feet on the shore of peace that stands waiting to receive us after navigating the tumultuous oceans in between.

But it’s that whole mess of raging ocean in between that’s the problem.  Sometimes life is hard.  Sometimes the waves are so high and terrible, the view of the shore is obscured.  Sometimes they crash so violently that we can’t help but cry out with the disciples, “Lord, save us!” (Matthew 8:25).  The situation is hard, and we are desperate and screaming for deliverance!

The Lord hears and asks them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). For the disciples, Jesus wanted to know, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25).

Let’s face it: like the disciples, sometimes it’s hard to see past what’s right in front of you.  With fearsome events swirling around, and disaster seemingly imminent, “seeing” a positive end to this rise is very difficult.  But God never asked us to see the better end.  He asks us to hold on, in faith, and trust that He will get us to the other side.

Four times we are told in His word, “The just shall live by faith,” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38).  And, in 2 Corinthians we are told, “We walk by faith, not by sight,” (5:7).  Yet, no matter how much we hear or read these encouraging words from Scripture, when it comes our time to be in the boat tossed about on the raging seas, many are ready to abandon ship because they can’t see the way to the other side.

But abandoning ship doesn’t get you to the other side.  It only leaves you treading water in the middle of the waves.

I don’t scoff at the disciples for waking Jesus, because if you don’t know how to get through the storm safely, and if you are having trouble navigating the ferocious winds in your life, it’s best to lean on Jesus in the middle of the storm.  It’s best to speak to the one who cannot only see you safely to the other side, but also bring quiet to the mess in between (Matthew 8:26).

If your goal is the other side, Jesus is your way.  Trust that if you are riding with Him, you will arrive safely on that shore of peace because Jesus never fails.

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”  – Psalm 107:29

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” – Nahum 1:7

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Holy Spirit-Driven

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“. . . Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts,” Zechariah 4:6

One of my fondest childhood memories was going down to the piers overlooking the harbor and watching the tugboats come in and out (even now I am moved by the nostalgia of it). Sometimes these boats are alone, but at other times they were guiding bigger ships through the busy harbor waters to dock safely.

Big ships are powerful, but the ins and outs of navigating the harbor can be tricky for them, so they need to be led instead of trying to move in their own strength and power.

What an image of our spiritual life!

Many, when they get up in the morning and go about their day, that’s what they do – move in their own strength and power. They navigate their day according to their natural wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as if they are the end-all of that day’s plan. Never once stopping to think, is this what God would have me do today?

A person who is Holy Spirit-driven knows that “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Ps. 37:23). They have the assurance that  His anointing is guiding them through the day. Yes, man can make plans and goals, but he who is Holy Spirit-driven seeks God’s intervention. He seeks His guidance. He seeks to be led by Someone outside of himself: “Lord, is this what you would have me do today?”

Who, today, can admit to needing a little more direction in life? Are you tired of being burdened by trying to manage the ins and outs of life while still trying to maintain control? That is not God’s plan for us. If truth be told, we don’t know the ins and outs of everything.

God knows this, and He has given us His Spirit to help lead and guide us on our spiritual journey.

It is amazing to think that we can go on a spiritual journey without the Spirit. How would that work? Unfortunately, since the Fall, mankind has continually sought to be led by his own understanding. But God offers us help. He offers us the power not only to walk through this journey but to make it to the other side. No matter how mighty and invincible one thinks he is, humanity can’t do this on his own.

Question: Is there any area where you may not feel as complete and whole as you need to be? The cause may be that God’s Spirit is not being allowed to move and work as needed. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 instructs us to, “Quench not the Spirit.” Don’t get in the way of what He wants to do through you. Don’t put out the fire of God’s power. Let Him become like a roaring flame on the inside, spilling over to the outside, and spreading to every area of your life.

God is concerned about you, my friend. Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17). This Comforter is here. This Spirit of truth, Who will not lie, but will lead us correctly and powerfully, is here! Won’t we let Him do his job?

If God knows we need Him. If Jesus knows we need Him, why do we refuse Him?

Joshua 9:14 is a portion of Scripture that has always stuck with me. Basically, Joshua and the elders were hoodwinked into making a covenant with those they were meant to conquer. They had to live with that decision because they “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” They did it in their own strength and understanding without being properly led.

Too many of us make the same mistake. Going about with our own plans, our own understanding, without asking, “What does God think about this?”

We could save ourselves a lot of undue stress if we would step aside for a moment and let Him do His job. We need to get out of ourselves and be led by the Spirit!

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” This is a verse that I have personally repeated to myself. A prayer, if you will, to be led by His Spirit.

How are you being led today? Who or what will you allow to steer you?

Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Vintage Discovery: Hope for the Hurting August 26, 2026

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My friend, are you hurting today? Has the load become too heavy to bear? Do you need a healthy dose of encouragement?

In this week’s installment of Vintage Discovery, I pray that in your hurting, you will find hope as we revisit Dear Bruised Reed…

Dear Bruised Reed, God’s got you.  Some days may be harder than others, but He’s here for you.  You may stand in need of restoration; that’s okay.  He is able to provide that too.  If peace has moved away from you, He is able to call it back into your life.  If love has sidestepped you, He Himself is love, and has satisfied all the requirements of love, and is able to make it reign in your life again.  He can turn all the hurt and disappointment you are feeling into joy.  Everything may not always work out the way we want it to, but it will work out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Dear Bruised Reed, I’m not promising you there won’t be days of tears and that everything will always be alright, for Jesus Himself said in the world you will have trouble (John 16:33). But what I can promise you is that when you are God’s child, you can still have hope in the midst of whatever it is you are facing.  You are not forgotten.  He sees everything.  And you are so incredibly loved through it all.  Restoration is always in His hand for the heart that will turn to Him for healing today.

Dear Bruised Reed, whatever it is, take it to the Lord and let Him in on what’s going on (1 Peter 5:7).  Pour out your heart before our Savior who cares.  He loves you and wants to see you walk in the victory He has secured for your life through our Lord Jesus Christ.  As quick as it is to worry and complain, with the same quickness we can unload the burdens of the heart and be free.

Dear Bruised Reed, trust in His judgment today.  He has never failed a case, and He won’t start now.  Nothing escapes His notice, and it is His truth, His will, and His way that will always win out in the end.  Never lose hope in what God can do in your life.  His mercies and compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22).  We are here today because of God.  We are loved by God.  We are covered by God.  And God is the one who will see us through when we rest our lives in His grace.

Dear Bruised Reed, Jesus Christ is waiting to be your ultimate source of true peace today (John 16:33).  Turn to Him.  Trust in Him.

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” Isaiah 42:3

“But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” Matthew 12:15-21

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Restoration Can Be Yours Today!

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Restored. Forgiveness. Made new. Justified. Recovered and redeemed. All these words speak of wrongs committed being made right. Not because of our goodness. Oh no. Nor was it accomplished on one’s own merits. But because we have a Savior. Because we have Jesus, who took every part of every wrong, who took every part of every curse, who took every part of every judgment for us, and with His body and His life, nailed it all to that cursed tree (1 Peter 2:24).

There was nothing left that He did not cover. No sin escaped that nailing: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Friend, the recovery is here for you today. Jesus already did the hard work necessary to build you back up, to change you, and to give you the chance to walk in the love of God and in a right relationship with Him once more.

When the lies rise, speaking contrary to His truth, say with those of Israel, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:8). The truly repentant will find solace in the truth that it is God, Himself who wants to see you restored more than anything else.

There may have been a stumbling, but don’t stay down. There may be a mark on the record, but grace speaks and says, “Get up.” Yes, there may even be sin, but confess it, repent from it, and allow forgiveness to urge you to keep on going.

Restoration says there is still a call on your life to be fulfilled. Walk in it: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…” (Proverbs 24:16).

“Again” says that restoration is yours today. You can find healing for your inner man in Christ Jesus: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

2 Chronicles 7:14 declares, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

God wants to heal people of their sin-sick ways spiritually:  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9).

Above, I quoted 1 John 1:9, which was written to a church of believers who already knew Christ as their Savior and were being encouraged in their faith against false teaching.  If you want your confession to work and your inner man to be healed, you must be born again: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” (John 3:5).  “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” (Acts 2:38).

Restoration can be yours today!

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

The Answer for Our Salvation

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“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

I  have said it once, and I will say it again: peace has got to be the most sought-after thing there is. Peace cannot be bought or bargained for. It can only be received.

Received by whom?

By those who have received Him, received Jesus Christ as Lord.

The things that come from a lack of peace are everything chaotic in this world. All of it has come as a by-product of sin. But when one receives Jesus Christ as their Savior, a natural by-product of that is inner peace, which takes up residence inside of us, regardless of the chaos around us.

Too many are searching for true peace without the real answer. It will not happen. False times of happiness and what appears to be an absence of trouble will eventually succumb to the frailty upon which they are built.

But everlasting peace, secured by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, when He became our answer for salvation, will never fail.

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:20

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

Be Blessed~

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Vintage Discovery: Seeing the Person August 19, 2026

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After blogging for over 13 years and writing hundreds, if not thousands, of articles, I am using this space, Vintage Discovery, to share pre-published treasures that are old but may be new to you. I hope you find them just as insightful, encouraging, and a blessing as when they were first published.

In this week’s installment of Vintage Discovery, I want to open your hearts to the idea of looking beyond people to see the person.

Today, come with me as we revisit Have a Warmer Heart Than Usual

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,” Luke 10:33

I live a good distance from the church I attend, which means lots of driving and observing time.  Oftentimes, on my way to church, I look out my window, and I stare.  Some may think I’m being rude, but the opposite is true.  I look at that person sitting on the stoop or the one standing on the corner, and I wonder.  I wonder about what they may have gone through that day.  I wonder what it is that made that person look so sad.  I wonder about the mom at the bus stop struggling to get the stroller, baby, and bags onto the bus.  I wonder.

How often have we really taken the time to see beyond the people to see the person, to try to imagine you walking in another’s shoes?  To see what’s going on inside the person without judging the outside?  To show a tender heart instead of a wagging head, disapproving eyes, and a simple tsk-tsk-tsk?

When it’s all said and done, it is the “royal law” of love that wins out every single time (James 2:8).  Thinking beyond oneself will go further and make more of a difference in the world we live in.  Why?  Because that’s what Christ did for us!  He looked beyond Himself, beyond His own needs and hurts, and saw what the world needed.  The world needed a Savior.

Even during His earthly ministry, it has been noted in the Bible, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion…” (Matthew 9:36).  To the leper: “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him…” (Mark 1:41).  To the mom who just lost her son: “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her…” (Luke 7:13).  To the world: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done,” (Luke 22:42).  To His enemies: “Father, forgive them;  for they know not what they do,” (Luke 23:34).

That’s how warm Jesus’ heart was toward people.  He had a genuine concern to look at people from the inside out instead of the outside in.  He saw the person beyond the people.  So did the Good Samaritan.  Despite the rejection and animosity he had faced down through the years at the hand of the Jews, the wounded man lying before him needed his help.  He was not going to let those years of bitterness or even indifference change his resolve to help the one who needed him now.

Paul taught the church in Ephesus to “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us…” (Eph. 4:32-5:2).

Followers of God are concerned with the person on the inside.  A child of God is warmed to the plight of the human in humanity and sees them for who they are.  They are someone that God is concerned enough about to allow His Son to die.  Shouldn’t we then have that same compassion for one another?

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

If Paul and Silas could pray in a dungeon…

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If Paul and Silas could pray in a dungeon surrounded by misery and pain (Acts 16:25-34), what great circumstance restrains our hearts from reaching out to the healer of hearts?

If Jonah could cry out of the dark place of the deep, inside the belly of a great fish because of his own disobedience (Jonah 2:2), what great darkness is stopping your voice from searching for the one who can bring light?

If Daniel could knowingly endanger his own life and would face a den of lions, still felt the need in himself to pray and give thanks to God (Daniel 6:10), what stops us from doing so even amongst the pressures of life we may be facing?

If our Lord, with everything within Him, prayed until great drops of blood flowed from His brow before the suffering of the cross (Luke 22:44), what great trial hinders you from drawing closer to the one who can see you through the trial and meet you on the other side?

Corrie Ten Boom, remembering the days she and her sister spent in the concentration camp in Germany, recorded in The Hiding Place the words of her dear sister before her death: “There is no pit so deep He is not deeper still,”1 (Ten Boom, 1971, p.240) showing that God’s love, mercy, strength, and power can penetrate the harshest and most severe of circumstances.

May our hearts continue to reach for Him regardless of the trials we face.

In all the examples, God was there performing His perfect will. Some walked away, while the stories of others ended differently. But even through the worst, God’s name was magnified, and a greater end to their story was birthed.

Do not let what you see today discourage you from seeking the face of the Father. In the good times and the bad, He is still there through it all.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

Blessings~

1 Ten Boom, Corrie & Sherrill, Elizabeth and John, 1971 and 1984, 2006. The Hiding Place. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.

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What would you do with 950 years?

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“So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.” Genesis 9:39, NKJV

What would you, my friend, do with nine hundred and fifty years? If that was your allotted time on earth and you knew it, how would your days be filled? What goals or aspirations would you work toward? What plans would you love to see come to pass?

Nine hundred and fifty years is a lot of time compared to our days on earth now. I can’t even imagine what can be done with so much disposable time. Oh, the things that could be accomplished!

Noah wasn’t the only one. In the beginning of Genesis, living hundreds of years was not uncommon (see Genesis 5). But what is also uncommon is that in our time we do not have these years of age afforded to us. To live for almost a millennium is way out of our scope for living on this earth. As a matter of fact, we have grand celebrations if we can only make it to one hundred. That’s a great feat for us.

Knowing that our time is much shorter than those in the beginning of Genesis, what are we doing with the time we do have? How are we spending our days with this precious life we have been given?

There is a Latin phrase we love to quote often: “Carpe diem,” which means “seize the day.” We may not have hundreds of years, but we do have today. We may not know how many years we do have or how all our tomorrows will work out, but we do have today.

The very moment we are in is all that we have, and at any moment, that too, can end. What will your story be?

God has gifted us today along with its “right now” moments. Use them wisely, my friends.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Text-free Image by Julius H. from Pixabay

To find more encouragement for how to spend your days, tap one of the links below ↓↓

“It’s About Time!”

“When You Feel There Aren’t Enough Hours In a Day!”

“The Grace of Time”

“Live It Well”

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.