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In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Never do today what you're not willing to do for the rest of your life. Take one day at a time.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
Have you been rejected or despised or forsaken by people you know? Jesus understands!
In Matthew 27:46 - at the very moment Jesus cried, "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me?" He took upon Himself all the sins of the world. At that moment, He experienced every sin that has ever been committed or will ever be committed. God, with pure eyes, could not look upon His Son who became sin, so He turned His back. Jesus was despised and rejected by God. The cross of Calvary was hell because it was the first time Jesus had been separated from God the Father. God forsook His only Son so that you would never be forsaken. He forsook His Son so that those who have been wounded by sin and those who have committed sin would be healed.
The cross of Calvary happened because of God's love for mankind. If you are ever to be healed, it must come from understanding, believing and embracing the love of God and the cross of Calvary. Jesus hung there for you! If you were the only one in the world, He would have done it for you.
(healing hearts.org - the hem of his garment - lesson 4 page 60)
But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
This is a beautiful love letter from our Heavenly Father - each line has link to it's own devotional messages. So read it through the first time all together - this is just beautiful - I hope the links work - if not, it can be found at fathersloveletter.com in the FLL Devotionals
My Child...
You may not know me, but I know everything about you
I know when you sit down and when you rise up
For I am familiar with all your ways
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered
For you were made in my image
In me you live and move and have your being, for you are my offspring
I knew you even before you were conceived
I chose you when I planned creation
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live
You are fearfully and wonderfully made
I knit you together in your mother's womb
And brought you forth on the day you were born
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could
For I am the perfect father
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope
Because I love you with an everlasting love
My thoughts toward you are as countless as the sand on the seashore
And I rejoice over you with singing
I will never stop doing good to you
For you are my treasured possession
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul
And I want to show you great and marvelous things
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart
For it is I who gave you those desires
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine
For I am your greatest encourager
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed
He is the exact representation of my being
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen
I have always been Father, and will always be Father
My question is...Will you be My child?
I am waiting for you
Love, Your Dad...Almighty God
For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15) NIV
I looked up contrite and it means very crushed and broken, like a piece of small dust. So, all who are heavy hearted today - know that the Lord, who lives on high - is with all who are low in spirit today!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. " Galatians 6:9
May I always remember this as I go through my days, may I not give up knowing God is with me at all times and His promises are real and true.
Lord,
We stand in agreement with Norma in asking to give her strength to continue to trust in you. You told us in Your word, I will not leave you comfortless. We pray this in Jesus name that she may continually feel your presence in her going out and coming in. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10 (TNIV)
Identify one area of your personality that hinders you from spurring others on to love and/or good deeds. Commit to submitting that area of your life to God for the next seven days.
Reflections:
Think about how someone has spurred you on to love in greater measure. How did they do that?
What are some ways your family can do "good deeds" for those around you? Make a list together and commit to doing one or two a month.
Original Post by normal702:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. " Galatians 6:9
May I always remember this as I go through my days, may I not give up knowing God is with me at all times and His promises are real and true.
Hey Norma - Hope you are a having a great day!
Rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say Rejoice. (Phil 4:4)
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
"The LORD, our Maker...is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." Psalm 95:6-8 (ESV)
“When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:18-19
Patti - thanks for sharing this verse with me this morning - I had to pass it on. ~NJ
Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
My wife "used" to get very frustrated with me at times, when I became sick, because I never went to the doctor. I explained to her that when God leads me there I will go, but until then, I do not want to be backwards in my walk with the Lord, to go spend my money see different doctors and then finally turn it over to God. She has finally accepted (reluctantly, because she loves me) that I will allow God to direct my every decision, and each time He has never failed me. I have been healed over and over and over again, by our great Physician, Jehovah Rapha-our healer.
While the country debates healthcare and the benefits of it, we should be mindful of what true healthcare really is about. Jesus said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17) With that in mind, we should have a mind of the woman with the issue of blood, if I could but touch the hem of His garment, and I know I will be made whole, not only healed but whole. When she pressed her way through to Jesus, she had made up her mind nothing was going to stop interfere with her being made whole, regardless of the many stumbling blocks in her way, (crowd).
Jesus wants to heal our bodies and relieve us of our pain, if we just press our way to him, Isaiah 53:5 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.
Everytime He was struck, He bore our burdens, everytime He was struck, he bore our illnesses, for every drop of blood He shed, He shed in love as our great Physician. We were the sick ones, but He took the operation on our behalf. By His stripes we are healed.
Whatever burdens we carry around, we carry it around needlessly. What ever illness we carry around, we should not let it depress us for even Jesus told Paul, My grace is sufficient. He came for the sick, and if you want to be healed, look to be made whole and the healing will come.
Jesus can heal our pain - I think Jesus calls us to move toward... our own pain, so that he can transform it. A lot of times we have some kind of pain inside of us, maybe a loss of some kind or a wound from childhood, and we ignore it or try to get away from it, instead of dealing with it. Or we medicate it away with alcohol or career or shopping. But if we would just stop for a minute, and move toward that pain with Jesus he could heal it.
Thought for today- If I could but just touch the hem of His garment, I know I shall be made whole.
Jesus told her, Her faith has made her whole. and He can do the same for us.
Mark
The principles found in the Bible for living a successful life aren't arbitrary ones God made up to make our lives difficult. They're sound principles designed by our Creator to give us the highest possible quality of life amidst a planet in rebellion.
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out." ~Numbers 32:23
I was lead to this scripture which meant so much to me inregards to changing those things which displease God and/or are not the best for me. I do not like change however in Hebrews 11:12 I am told:
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
May I remember this as I begin to make changes in some of my behavior. Isn't it amazing the promises of good through the difficult that God gives us. What hope and encouragement I am given. Thank you God.
"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, or the LORD upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24(NIV)
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised." Proverbs 31:30 (NLT)
"Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now." 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)
