Tag: God’s Word

busyness verses worship, taking time to reflect, prayerful picture, remembering the Reason for Christmas inspirational picture

“Busy, Busy, Busy”

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All busyness is not good. Any productivity expert will tell you that if your busyness pulls you away from your goal instead of toward it, then it is just that—busyness. In the end, it amounts to nothing when it works against the results we desire.

So let me ask you: What are your desired results for this season?
Is your busyness bringing you closer to them?

This time of year is always full—and often too full. As Christmas approaches, our schedules tend to get thrown off balance. There are extras of everything: extra celebrations, extra events (especially if you have children performing in pageants, plays, or musicals), extra shopping with extra thought given to meals and gifts, and extra planning for all the details surrounding this special season.

These “extras” have become synonymous with Christmas. And while celebrations are wonderful, it’s worth asking: If all these extras distract us from our main reason for celebrating, then what is their purpose?
Have they drained the joy from the very reason we should be joyful?

Everyone carries their own expectations for this season, but perhaps it’s time to realign our hearts. Maybe we should adjust our perspective until we can look beyond all the preparations and remember the true Reason for the season: the birth of Christ.

Maybe it’s time to set the busyness aside and carve out quiet moments of reflection. We might reread the biblical account of our Lord’s birth slowly and meditatively. We could spend time with writings that highlight the true story of Christmas, or watch films and performances that tell the narrative of the nativity. Immersing ourselves in these stories can reawaken the wonder we often lose amid the rush.

Celebrations are good, but the reason for celebrating is greater, and it should never be overshadowed by our agendas. Let us remember where our true joy comes from:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
—Isaiah 9:6

May He be the desire of our hearts—not only in this season, but all year long.

Blessings~

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:18-23 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Luke 1:30-35 – “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Luke 2:7-14 – “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

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Hebrews 11:1, believing God even when we can't see it, trusting in dark times, trust in the unknown, inspirational picture, Bible devotion

“Growing In the Unseen”

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Recently, I have been asked to stretch beyond my comfort zone in dealing with a certain matter. To step into something that I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. But also, recently, I have been trying my best to do more than just quote the words of faith; I have been working on deliberately applying them and practicing them even more than before.

Sometimes life calls us to take challenging and uncomfortable steps. Often, those steps do not come with full disclosure about the results, making those initial moves even more uneasy. As humans, we like to know or at least get some kind of inkling about how things will turn out. Thomas, who, historically, is referred to as the doubter in the group of the original disciples, had a hard time believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ without visible, physical proof. As a matter of fact, he said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

The tragedy of the cross dampened all he had previously witnessed during his term as a disciple of Christ. In fact, Thomas, if we’re honest, only verbally spoke the same reaction of disbelief as the other disciples, who had only come to believe after seeing evidence for themselves.

But Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Those who have come to faith through the word of the testimony of these founding apostles and the Holy Scriptures were not, are not, ones who visibly and physically laid eyes or hands on our Lord. But by faith, we believe.

Our evidence is only in accepting what Scripture provides as truth – and that’s enough. Our hearts have been opened to receive this truth through the Holy Spirit – and we are glad.

Our salvation is the greatest thing we can believe and hope for, but faith does not stop at the door. Throughout our Christian journey, we will encounter many times of not knowing the result of the next step.

Thomas’s experience can help you filter your response when encountering these unknown moments. Many of our Christian decisions will be by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). And we can go forth believing without having all the answers laid out for us in detail or wrapped in a pretty package.

The cross was not beautiful, but by faith we believe in the beauty of salvation that it produces. If we can believe for that, that all our sins have been washed away and taken care of, everything else is little in comparison.

Even if you can’t see it, just believe. Our eyes, our knowing, can get in the way of something greater that God may want to do. Don’t let what you see or don’t see be a limiting factor in your life. Instead, let it be an area of expansion for your faith. As a seed grows to be a fruitful plant unseen in the soil, your faith will grow best in the times of the unseen.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

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DECEMBER: The Rhythm of Reflection and Rest

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Days upon us turn cold with
Embers in the fireplace aglow.
Calling us to the calm of winter’s sleep,
Evoking its own seasonal peace.
Many hearts at rest, and tucking in,
Beautifully enjoying the slow rhythm within.
Embracing the quiet of this flow,
Reflecting on the year past, anticipating new tomorrows.
©WordforLifeSays

While December comes with much celebrating of the season leading up to Christmas (and rightly so), and although there seems to be a lot of hustle and bustle surrounding it, may we take the time to truly enjoy this season with the beauty God gives us within. May our hearts tuck into the quietness of the days and reflect. Reflect on all the days of this year that are passing, and may we look forward with hope and expectation to the new that’s coming ahead.

Blessings ~
Word for Life Says

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”
Ecclesiastes 3:1.
“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter” Psalm 74:17.
“Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10

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, or 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. 

“Walk on Your Unique Path”

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I don’t pray anymore for faith like Abraham’s or courage like David’s, or for any other qualities modeled by someone else.

Their lives are significant, and we can learn from them—but God is writing something personal in each of us. Every one of us carries aspects of ourselves that God wants to shape, refine, and bring to life. When we yield to His molding process, we become the version of ourselves that He intended from the beginning.

I want to become the best version of me that God desires. I’ve realized He has placed a unique beauty and originality within every person. Together, we each bring a distinct “flavor” to the larger story of humanity.

The stories of others can inspire us and offer guidance, but trying to replicate someone else’s journey can leave us discouraged when our path doesn’t look like theirs. And that’s because it was their story—not ours.

God sees the beauty in who you are and in the path you walk with Him.

We honor the footsteps of those who have gone before us, but we also embrace the truth that our road may look different. The beauty of your life rests in who God designed you to be.

The best version of you isn’t found in imitation—it’s found in His intention.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Blessings ~

Photo by jasmin chew on Pexels.com

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When the Lights Flicker

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It never fails. If there is time, I try my best to properly prepare.

I make every effort to stay abreast of the latest forecasts. And at the thought of an impending storm, I go through my house to make sure certain things, especially those regarding the possible absence of power, are in place.

I plug in my computer, phones, tablets, and portable chargers in the event of an extended power outage.

Nobody likes to be without the things they depend on for day-to-day functioning. When disruptions occur with no ability to plug in, we can feel incapacitated and at a loss. We often don’t realize how important our power source is until it’s no longer available.

Thankfully, there is one power source we can always plug into. We can connect, without interruption, to the Word of God. And whenever we feel at a loss in life, unsure of which way to go, God’s Word will always be there to supply the illumination we need.

Even if you do not understand all that you are reading, we are invited to ask God in faith for wisdom, and He will happily supply (James 1:5-6).

Many circumstances can cause our lights to flicker, but we never have to be without light or the power source that supplies it: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Power lines can get severed by winds and branches falling on them, but God’s Word will never fall or be disconnected. It will always be relevant and the “right-now” source to turn to at all times, for all things.

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word,” (Psalm 119:114).

If you enjoyed this morsel of motivation, feel free to click on the articles below for more inspiration.

Many blessings to you~

“Power Source”

Where you plug in, where you get your resources and information, your inspiration for life, matters more than most people realize. Fill your life and thoughts with useless fillers, and you remain empty. But if you get connected to true power, you can run this race and fulfill the destiny God has ordered for you. Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). In God’s Word, there is truth, revelation, and power! Get connected!

“Make God’s Word Louder”

If there was ever a time when we needed to drown out the world’s noise and build ourselves even more in the Word of God, that time is now! When fear tries to speak, make God’s Word louder! Magnify what the Lord says in your life and declare His truth.

“God’s Word Gives Light!”

God’s Word will illuminate your life. God’s Word is the answer to all. Every question, every choice, every pondering of the spirit finds an answer covered in the “inspiration of God.”

“Relationship With the Word!”

In many dark times, the Word is what shines a light brighter than any sun.  In the Word, we find comfort, solace, and peace no matter the prisons that try to hold us.

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, or 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. 

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Christian inspirational cross picture for redemption and deliverance, Isaiah 43:1

Redeemed.

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Redeemed. Rescued. Bought. Delivered.

All these words speak beautifully of the testimony of what I was brought out of. For if the conditions were optimal, then there would be no need for the rescue. If I was good where I was, there would be no need for a recovery.

History has repeatedly proven that there is a vast void one experiences in the life that is lived outside of this holy renewal. There is an intense longing that says, I need saving. And saving, He did.

Crushed and broken, Jesus gave His life for mine. The sacrificial atoning exchange took place. Not for me to question or be in doubt, but to walk bravely in the paths He has ordained for me. Not to fear, but with confidence, He instilled in me the strength to stand toe to toe with what is before me, declaring, I can, because He did.

In His redemption, I can experience a life that I would have never imagined. Not one centered around the benefits of the gains this world offers. But it is because of the blessing of newness of life He presents to me.

Those words, “being redeemed,” speak to me and comfort me, telling me of His surrender and offering of Himself. He paid for what I could not.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

It was my life that needed the change. Still, He arranged it so that I would be the one to reap the benefits of the seed of Himself sown (John 12:24). That I might be a part of the fruit of that vine (John 15:5), attached to Him, nourished by the flow of life therein, and brought up that I might live eternally with my Savior.

Only His atoning work makes this possible. When He reclaimed my life with the giving of His, the longing has been satisfied, and the rescue has been eternally made. My path before I encountered such grace and mercy was dismal at best. But when He died for me and invited me to take of Him, my soul said, yes. And now I have been captured by this gift of love.

Take in, dear friend, all that He offers you. Take in His love. Take in His being. Take in His gift of deliverance, for it is an incredible feeling when He declares such a loving action fulfilled in your life. And you will never be the same again.

“…Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

If you like this devotional read, I’m sure you’ll love:

“The King to My Rescue”

Sometimes a knight in shining armor just won’t do. You need the most powerful of the land, the King; Almighty God, to come to the rescue. Nobody can help you like He can. Nobody can love you like He can. Nobody can save you like He can. We need the King! Turn to the King – He’s waiting for you!

“The Beauty of Redemption”

Corrie Ten Boom reminds us, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”  To the soul that turns to Christ, the ugliness of sin is done away with and He will satisfy with the beauty of redemption.

“The Redeemer Shall Come”

Oh, what a day that will be! The chains and the shackles of this world will be permanently loosed and true freedom will come once and for all. God’s people will rise to reign in victory because the Redeemer has come!

And an inspirational poem titled, “My Redeemer Lives!”

Even if things don’t look like their turning in your favor.
Even if today doesn’t look better than yesterday.
God, your Redeemer is alive and in charge. No matter what it looks like right now, believe HIM through it all!

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, or 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. 

Inspirational and encouraging picture about trusting God even when we can't see it based on Joseph's story of being sold into Egyptian slavery

“Your Behind-the-Scenes Success!”

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Genesis 37-41

Details. You either love them or hate them. When it comes to daily tasks, details can be a bit overwhelming when you are trying to figure out the minutest specifics of all that needs to be done.

Yet, when it comes to our future, especially regarding its outcome, details can be beneficial in planning and preparing. Our hopes are to receive a favorable ending to our story. And while details help us along toward specific goals in the natural world, when it comes to our spiritual walk, specific details of every move we make or every journey we walk through aren’t often given to us.

Take the story of Joseph, for instance. He was next to the next-to-youngest of twelve exceptional boys born to Jacob. Exceptional because they would become known later as the twelve tribes of Israel.

Being the firstborn of Rachel (the woman whom Jacob loved and willingly worked for to marry), Joseph received favors and preferential treatment from his father. If the evidence of his being treated favorably wasn’t there before, surely the multi-colored coat given to him signaled it loud and clear.

Joseph was not only unique in being Rachel’s firstborn and Daddy’s favorite. He was also blessed with a special gift revolving around dreams. Unfortunately for him, this gifting led to acquiring ire from his older brothers, who were more than likely already miffed at his exalted treatment.

This, in turn, provoked a plan of deception that would rid them of their problem with this bothersome brother. Deviating from killing him because their hatred so stirred them, they sold him into slavery.

There, his story pans out over several years of slavery, work, favor, and imprisonment. It seemed that when Joseph tried to do right, he was rewarded with lies, accusations, and being forgotten by those he helped. But while he was doing right and being a help to others, God was working behind the scenes to bring his story to a successful conclusion.

God was marching Joseph forward, unknown to himself, to the place of his maximum usefulness for that era. Whether it is readily apparent or not, God was with him even in a place where he may have felt alone, forgotten, and abandoned.

The details we see before us are obvious. They are obvious because they are visible. But like Joseph, our stories have more layers to them than just what the eye can see or human reasoning can understand.

In Genesis 39:2, we read, “And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”

In Genesis 39:21, it tells us, “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

And in the New Testament we are told, “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him” (Acts 7:9).

Joseph lived his life in an honorable manner. He did not have the benefit of Scripture that would let him know that everything was going to work out in his favor; that the LORD was with him in the unseen details.

But He was. And God is with us also. Numerous times Scripture reminds us of this beautiful fact:

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee…” Isaiah 43:2

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God…” Isaiah 41:10

“… I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20

“… the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” Psalm 140:13

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16, and so many more.

In the extraordinary moves of life, we may readily point out, “God is with me!” But what His word assures us of is that in those moments where we cannot easily feel Him or understand the hardness of the situation we are dealing with, He is there.

Joseph’s story shares this truth with us, as well as Job’s, and many others who endured hardship, suffered trials, fought battles, and more.

But even when you can’t see how God is working things out behind the scenes, know that He is. What may not be apparent in details to others or even to you is clear before God, who knows the beginning from the end.

He has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Just keep living honorably and in faith. Grab hold of the truth of Scripture laden with the promise of His presence, and believe, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

In the end, Joseph, who was sold, accused, and forgotten, was elevated to the second-highest position in the land. I can’t promise your story will end with such exaltation. But what I can tell you is that no matter how your story unfolds, keep your faith in God, not in the details you can see, and know that in the end, God can make it work for good (Romans 8:28).

Your behind-the-scenes success is in God. Trust Him even when the details aren’t apparent.

More Inspiration:

“God is Working It Out!”

“Forget, and Be Fruitful!”

“You Don’t Need to Know Everything!”

“… Because of God”

“Dream Big!”

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, or 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. 

“Make Your Requests Known!”

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“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

I have opened many beautiful invitations throughout the years. But none so beautiful as the call from heaven that says, “Come.” – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Our Savior has always been a welcoming Savior. Never a standoffish Lord. People clamored to be near, knowing that where He is, there is help and healing. People drew near to hear His words and wisdom. But people also desired to be near because His very presence welcomed them.

What is stopping you from coming? Do you feel unworthy? Come, for none are worthy. Do you not know how? Come, for it is not the articulation of your words the Lord is seeking. It’s you. For the LORD says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

God, the Father, welcomes you to come and lay it all down: “Let your requests be made known unto God.”

Our gracious and kind God is not to be treated like a fictitious genie in a bottle. But as our Heavenly Father, He wants you to know that He is concerned about every part of your life. There is no prayer or problem, too big or too small.

What is the container of your heart holding today? At the throne of grace, there is power to release and free it.

What troubling thought is anxiously weighing you down? The Word confidently invites us to “Be careful for nothing.”

But that can only happen when we allow the faith we have in God override our natural human propensity to take on the world and try to solve it all on our own.

Faith is the key, my friend, that unlocks this door. For even when we can’t see it, we believe that as our prayers leave our hearts and our lips, God hears every one. And as He hears, we believe in our Heavenly Father to do what He sees best for His children.

There are days of general prayers. However, there are times when it is necessary to be very specific: “Let your requests be made known unto God.”

For this, we do not need a prayer plan or formula. We just need a heart of faith, no matter how small (Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:24), to come. A heart that will seek to speak with our Heavenly Father and ask for His help.

It’s not complicated. Nor was it ever meant to be. A good and loving father will always keep a door open for his children to come and talk, if need be.

Dear one, you are God’s child. Go to the prayer door of “Abba, Father,” and make your requests known.

It is true, He knows all things of whatsoever you could think to bring. But will you allow your faith, no matter how humble, to propel you forward, and come and make known those requests? The Word reminds us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Despite what our eyes see and the words others may say, Father God knows it all; He knows what’s best, and He is awaiting your coming.

Lord, I bring it to You…

Every concern about my family. Every concern about my ministry. Every unknown that is before me. My life is in Your hands. You, who are the Creator of the ends of the earth and beyond, hold my very days, life, and times in the palms of Your strength and power. You know the beginning from the end of it all. And, You know the future you have in store for me.

So, I pray today, casting all my cares upon You, in trust and belief that all things will work together for good.

I bring You my heart. Even though I sometimes have words and thoughts that I can’t properly articulate, I come. I lay them all at the foot of Your throne of grace, where You welcome me to draw near to obtain help.

Oh, God, I need You in everything. You are my Praise, my Comfort, and my Rock. You are the reason we sing and dare to have hope. You are the Light that shows us the way, and I pray today for Your holy direction.

I need You as I lie down and as I rise in the morning. I need You in every breath I take and every move I make. I need You all day long, without exception to time, space, and subject.

There is none like You. Not in all the heavens or in all the earth. Thank You for making room for us to come and lay it all down. Thank You for Your daily, loving compassion and tender mercies; for being our very present help in the time of trouble.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Text Free Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay

More Inspiration:

“Welcomed”

“Come to the Garden, and Pray!”

“Upon My Knees!”

“There is Power in Prayer!”

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, or 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. 

Romans 1:20 inspirational picture, Psalm 19:1 inspirational picture about God and creation,

“Look Around, and See!”

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Oh, dear ones, creation has a story to tell.  It tells the story of God (of what He wants disclosed), and it gives one ample grounds to believe.

From the beginning of time, people have tried, and are still trying to explain away the creation story.  With everything from unproven theories to speculative claims, they lead many on a lost road of unbelief, erasing God from the picture altogether.

Yet, when we raise our windows and experience that fresh air He produces, there is no man-made scent in the world that can mimic it and give you the same sense of peace and well-being as what He created.  All of creation is put together by His intelligent design, and there is not one area that lacks the touch of His wisdom.

Everything from the intricacies of the human body, with all of its systems and how it works right down to the food chain of the world and how every species created is covered. Taking into account that if one link of that chain is missing, the system around it begins to suffer and crumble.

Looking out into our vast universe and even in the realm of our own planet, we see everything aligned perfectly in place to give us what we need to be nurtured and not harmed. 

Take into account the Earth’s positioning. It is close enough to the sun that we are cared for in warmth and food and all those other good benefits, but not too close to damage us.

That’s all because God perfectly called these things forth and placed everything in its optimal place of functionality by His divine power and wisdom.

It was Martin Luther who said, “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees, and flowers, and clouds, and stars.” Can you see it?

My friend, everywhere we turn, there is evidence of God moving throughout creation: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20).

Some may try to attribute what they feel or experience to “being one with the universe” or “mother nature,” or some other misguided belief, but all evidence of creation points to God and God alone. 

The world we live in tries to contradict not only the beauty He originally designed in the creation, but it also comes against the idea of God as the author of it all.

The interruption of evil in this world and in the hearts of man may have caused a separation from the divine truth, but because of the evidence that Paul states is “clearly seen,” it leaves all mankind “without excuse.”  

God has always been “before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col. 1:17), and it is up to each human heart to accept that truth or not.  No exceptions.  No excuses.

The very skies, trees, flowers, wind, and weather – and even our own beings- tell creation’s beautiful story. Take a deep breath in. Open your heart and consider. Open your eyes and discern. Look around, and see! The Creator of all of this is awaiting your believing response.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1

Photo by Andre Moura on Pexels.com

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“Therefore, I Have Hope!”

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Inspirational picture of hope from Lamentations 3:21

As I was praying this morning, I was walking back and forth, as I sometimes do, and my eyes settled on a special plate and saucer set mounted on my shelf. It is from the Liberty Blue collection. I acquired these pieces years ago at Goodwill because I loved their aesthetic. Not knowing their value, I only picked up these few pieces and left the others there. And yes, I’m still kicking myself over it today.

I have a fondness for things of the past. If you were to describe the aesthetic of my home, I would call it “cozy vintage.” I love to incorporate things of bygone years into the design of my house. And while my whole home doesn’t emanate this style, there are many pieces that do. They remind me of simpler times. Their beauty, for me, is in the feelings they evoke of a bygone era.

Sadly, all our days of remembering are not filled with such fondness. When we look through our history, there may be experiences and events we wish we could change. Things that we would desire the outcome to be different.

Unfortunately, we cannot undo history. But what we can do is lean into the faithfulness of God and remember how He brought us through.

The Book of Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah. In it, he expresses his grief and sadness over the now fallen Jerusalem. The people had turned a deaf ear to the warnings of God sent through the mouth of the prophet, and now tragedy has taken hold of the land. Destruction, hurt, and pain are mixed in the rubble of the ruins from the invasion of the enemy. Their future as a nation looks dismal at best.

But then there comes a shift in Jeremiah’s thinking. Something beautiful began to rise in his heart that could not be extinguished by the disaster that surrounded him. And that beautiful uprising is called hope. This prompted him to pen the familiar words of Lamentations 3:21: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”

Jeremiah could have continued to wallow in sorrow with the belief that their case was beyond help, without hope. Instead, he chose to lean upon the faithfulness of God, Who always gives us a reason to hope. Rather than letting the feelings of dismay and despair overwhelm him and execute their language into his life – in the middle of this rehearsal of the negative, he chose to rewrite the narrative of how he would personally view this story. He chose to interject a praise of the positive, which was the faithfulness of God (Lam. 3:22, 23).

And we can do the same. While there may be hard parts of the story, there is a wonderful part: God Himself. The daily news may be littered with hopelessness, but our story declares that because of God, we still have hope.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope!” Like Jeremiah, we can have a made-up mind to focus on all that God had previously done, remembering how He had moved in times past. Recalling the positives of His faithfulness will help us to store an arsenal of truth for the days ahead.

More Inspiring Articles:

“Remeber What the LORD Thy God Did!”

“His Promise!”

“Encouragement While Enduring”

“The Great Acts of the LORD”

“A Trip Down Memory Lane”

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, or 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.