...where I share different verses from the Psalms every week!
May you find truths about God, yourselves, and living life in the images and word pictures shared here!
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Are
you broken hearted? Has your heart been torn apart by the events in your
life? Has your heart been broken by the people you love? Does your mind feel the
pain so much that you have trouble thinking of anything else? Do you feel crushed inside
under the weight of your troubles? Every once in awhile I find myself in this state. My heart is crushed by everything that's happening around me, especially when it involves the people I love the most. That has been the case for me just recently. I love my son!! But seeing him usually has been a bitter-sweet pill. Our times together can either be awesome and enjoyable or they can be excruciatingly stressful.(It usually is a little bit of both.) Prayer can be difficult and tiring when we are going through these trials. When the grace of God
is delayed, and all experience of it so far withdrawn, as that our spirits begin to fail, it is a very severe trial.
Sometimes we think that if we just try hard enough or pray
hard enough things will change. Yet sometimes it's not about God
giving us what we want (though I do know how frustrating that can seem
at the time).
God knows just how I feel and what I'm going
through. He feels my pain, He knows my sorrow, and He
wants me to cry out to Him for help. The One True God will save everyone who
has been crushed by life. He will rescue, defend and deliver us from all of our troubles if we cry out to Him, and trust and accept His will for our
life.
Even in the darkest of moments, God gives us a bit of comfort and light.
Even when we cannot seem to see the purpose in, or reasons behind, the
obstacles, we can turn to God and ask Him the questions. Yet, it is up
to us to allow God into our lives so that He can open our eyes to all
the other possibilities. If your
very heart, mind and soul, the center of your being is crushed and hurt, then
the Lord, the One who has always existed, is near you right now.
Always remember, the Lord Who
knows all about you is very close to you when you are bursting or broken in
pieces.
I decided to take a break from my posts on being "Fervent" and share some things that have been heavy on my heart lately.
Mostly, I've been struggling with how much the world (and especially the United States) has not only become greatly secularized, but is often working overtime to tear down and degrade those who are claiming and living out their Christian beliefs. Not only that, but I'm seeing how our own schools (funded by the state) and government (funded also by the citizens) are now trying to make it illegal for Christians to express/live out their Christian convictions. What we used to be able to do freely, without fear of being sued, reprimanded, and threatened has become a concern in many schools, businesses, and daily lives.
There is a new movie, recently made by "Pure Flix" that will be opening in many theaters around the nation on Friday, March 21st.
"This is a powerful film. Kevin Sorbo(played Hercules years ago) turns in a brilliant performance as
a Philosophy professor who starts his new class by insisting that his
students sign a paper stating "God is dead". One student, named Josh,
refuses to do so and Professor Jeffery (Sorbo) tells him he must debate
the topic that God is dead and give convincing evidence that he is not.
Josh accepts the challenge and the viewer later learns why Professor
Jeffery has been bitter at God for a long time. It should be noted that
the professor's girlfriend is a Christian but he just can't seem to
outrun God.
Other plots involve a man named Mark (Dean Cain, who played in the T.V. series, Superman.) who is self absorbed
and doesn't care when he learns his girlfriend has cancer. He ignores
his elderly mother too who has dementia and is in a nursing home. This
compelling movie features the Newsboys who minister to the woman with
cancer and a providential moment when Pastor Dave (David A.R. White) has
an opportunity to minister to a certain college professor. In addition,
a woman lives for Jesus despite the fact her father belongs to another
religion and will reject her if she doesn't reject Christ. We are happy
to award this movie our Dove "Family-Approved" Seal for ages twelve
plus. This movie is a powerful tool to remind every viewer: God is
certainly not dead!"
I have a son who is currently in college and my husband and I plan on taking him to see this movie this coming weekend.
If you think this isn't truly a big problem in the schools our country, think again! Please watch the video below! It is very unnerving and frightening to think about what our future generations are being taught and by whom!!
This
is why the movie "God's Not Dead" is SO important! If you have or know a
college student/high school student, PLEASE watch/take them to the
movie! Our freedoms as Christians are being taken away!!
I would highly recommend that all Christians, especially for teens to young adults, watch this movie! To see a list of possible theaters that are near you that are playing this movie, goHERE.If you aren't able to go see it, please pray for those who will be. This can be such a powerful tool to bring others to Christ!
"God's Not Dead is a powerful reminder of the importance of always being
ready to give a defense of the hope that is in us, and how desperately
hungry the hurting world around us is for that hope." Bob Pritchett, CEO, Logos Bible Software
Here is the official music video of the song "God's Not Dead" by the Newsboys. I think the movie was based on that song and will include the band in the movie itself. I have always like this song, so I really look forward to seeing the movie, also!
I'm also sharing, once again, some more blessings that the Lord has provided and gifted me with throughout my week. Linking up with "Multitude on Mondays" blog hop over at "A Holy Experience".
Some of my favorite verses that remind me that the Lord is eternal:
1,651 - Revelation 1:8
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
1,652 - Psalm 90:1-4
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn men back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.” For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
1,653 - 1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1,654 - Even though it actually snowed here this morning, it's officially the first day of Spring! Beauty and new life is just around the corner!! :)
1,655 - My stepfather's healing...he's had poor health and was in the hospital for a few days, but is now home.
1,656 - A good annual review from my boss in the counseling center at work.
1,657 - Talented and conscientious Christians who are dedicated to making movies, like "God's Not Dead" (And "The Son of God" that is also in theaters.)
1,658 - Getting excited to see my son this coming weekend!! (Visiting from college)
...where I share different verses from the Psalms every week!
May you find truths about God, yourselves, and living life in the images and word pictures shared here!
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I find hope in His Word!
In Christ, through the Word, I find hope for acceptance and
justification, for peace, pardon, and eternal salvation; all which are
in Him. The promises contained in His Word are my only sure hope!
May you find a quiet retreat, wherever you are, and may you find renewed hope in His Word.
“I baptize you
with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose
sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
John
shares with us that this fire is a good fire, a fire of the Love of
God, a fire of the Holy Spirit, a fire of doing God's will, waiting to
burn in each of us. This fire, is the fire that Jesus gives us-the blazing in our heartsthat must continually burn.
On Pentecost we see the Church, Christ's believers, set on fire by the Holy Spirit. He creates faith. He sustains faith. He sets our hearts on fire. He
builds us up, kindles our faith, through the message of Christ crucified
and risen again.
It is His desire that the world would be filled with the fire of belief and Faith in the one true God.
Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our
heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He
opened the Scriptures to us?”
If we are on fire and consumed with God, we are going to have that intimate relationship He desires with us.
This inspiration that fills a life with fire and fervor for the
Lord, comes from the HOLY SPIRIT of God! The Bible says, "Our God IS a
consuming FIRE" (Hebrews 12:29), and repeatedly compares His Spirit to a
fire, or flames of fire. (See Acts 2:3,4; Revelation 4:5; Matthew
3:11.)
--So if we want to have a blazing heart for the Lord, full of His
fiery anointing and inspiration, all we need to do is just PRAY and ask Him to EMPOWER and
FILL us with the power of His Holy Spirit!--And He WILL! Even if you're not always exactly sure what to do or even how to do
it, you can PRAY, acknowledge the Lord, and then do your best to obey what you
DO know is His will.
Let's get our hearts BLAZING ON FIRE for God by earnestly praying and faithfully and
hungrily reading His Word and letting His Truth and His Spirit inspire
us, filling us with the vision of the great things He wants to do with
us and through us!--And then let's do OUR part by putting our WHOLE
heart into WHATEVER tasks we can do for JESUS and OTHERS!!
=========================== I'm continuing to give thanks, listing
the many gifts from the Lord!Linking over at "Multitude on
Mondays".
1,639 - Thankful that my mom, who fell on the ice last weekend, didn't seriously injure herself! 1,640 - Thankful for extra time with my hubby, who is taking the next several Fridays off because he has to use up his vacation time- making extended weekends!! 1,641 - Enjoying a few much warmer days (in the 50's, instead of the teens and 20's)
1,642 - Thankful that the ice is holding out for those crazy people who continue to drive their cars out on the lake!! Ahhh! 1,643 - All this snow, trying to melt just a little in the warmer temps.
1,644 - Eating my favorite meal (Fetuchini Alfredo) at our favorite restaurant!(A small hometown diner near our house). 1,645- My doggies finally getting to walk on grass again!!!(This was the first time our little Cheyenne has walked in our yard since we got her in December)
1,646 - Taking in deep breaths of fresh air on such a gorgeous day!! 1,647 - Hearing someone calling me from above...no it's not the Lord...
It's my hubby, who opened a window to let in some fresh air!! 1,648 - The beautiful white birch trees that our neighbors have in their yard look so white in the sunlight!! 1,649 - The warm sun, piercing throught the trees; a jetstream, forming a line across the sky!(It seems like I haven't seen these things in months!)
(I'm not sure why, but this post has been in my drafts for over a week! I have really struggled either to be motivated to write or just don't have the time/energy to get it completed. So, please bear with me. I am very late getting it published, but I felt I really needed to post it before the end of the week. I'm not sure if someone is supposed to read it this week, or what, but I wanted to post it in obedience to what I sense the Lord is wanting me to do. God bless you all!) I remember as a child, hearing people use the phrase "eager beaver", to describe someone who was enthusiastic and willing to jump right in with whatever they were doing! "Referring, of course, to the industrious beaver, this near-rhyming
expression is a Canadian Army phrase that was penned around 1940. People observed beavers working and, well, beavering
away at their work - they seemed to always be doing work of some sort of
other which was admirable."
Metaphorically, an eager beaver is a person who possesses an unusual
amount of energy and enthusiasm for working hard and completing far more
than might generally be required of him or her. A willingness, zeal or longing to accomplish a task or fulfil an ambition.
Believers should be eager to follow and serve their Lord in many ways! Here are just a few, followed by verses that share this:
"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
A wise person is eager, yet patient:
"But if we hope for what we do not yet observe, we eagerly wait for it with patience." Romans 8:25 ISV
We also need to be careful about what we are eager for. There are wrong kinds of eagerness:
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager
for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with
many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10
“A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20 (NIV)
We also have to be aware that our spiritual eagerness can be superficial and unreal
"Those people are zealous
to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from
us, so that you may have zeal for them.It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you." Gal. 4:17-18
"Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;" 1 Peter 5:2
There is also another saying (this one was actually one that I've never heard before):
They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out
so that you will seek them. But it is good always to be eagerly sought
in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/eagerness#sthash.L7o9qBt6.dpuf
But, I think it can apply to how we live out our "eagerness". Here are some verses that might apply to this saying:
"Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools." Ecc. 7:9 NASB
"A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him." Prov. 28:22 NIV
They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out
so that you will seek them. But it is good always to be eagerly sought
in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/eagerness#sthash.L7o9qBt6.dpuf
Are you like the "eager beaver", ready to jump into serving the Lord, or do you struggle to "get things done" with enthusiasm and a willing heart? I know, for me, there are times I am more of an "apathetic aardvark". May we seek to show true eagerness for Him in our lives!!
=========================== I'm continuing to give thanks, listing
the many gifts from the Lord!Linking over at "Multitude on
Mondays". 1,630- Great ladies Bible study lesson, followed by some girl time with my friend!!
1,631 - A quiet week at work. 1,632 - Spending an afternoon with my mom!
me and my mom
1,633 - Getting to sing some great worship songs in our church service! 1,634 - The beginning of the week was difficult, but God got us through it.
My great-niece was hospitalized with RSV.
Lots of illness /injuries at work.
By today, things were MUCH better...
niece feeling better, released from hospital
most of the staff feeling better
2 ladies that came into our church for help got saved!!!
1,635 - Watching a crazy driver speeding across the frozen lake and doing donuts.(Yes, this has become our entertainment during these dreary winter months!)
1,636 - Getting stuck in the snow and my hubby taking off work to come push me out! (The blessing wasn't as much, getting stuck as was seeing my hubby!) Such an awesome guy! 1,637 - Safe travels to and from work! 1,638 - After several days of yucky weather, we had sunshine and temps above freezing today!!! Thank You, Lord!!
"I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other." Romans 1:12
