God Will Never Leave You Disappointed

Iced tea is a staple of most southern homes. Ours is no exception.  We also have our favorite brand of tea bags.  We like our tea to be pretty strong and one brand in particular does just what we want. Their bags have no wrappers or staples so it’s very easy to plop three or four of the quart sized bags in the boiling water.

As I was making a fresh gallon of tea I grabbed the box of bags out of the cabinet. As I went to put bags in the water I looked and found that there was a “dud” in the box. It was a perfectly formed bag but not one speck of tea leaf was inside! I pitched that bag and went on about my business. There was only one problem, as I fished for more bags I discovered that many of them were either empty or had only a tiny amount of tea leaves inside.  I was disappointed at the contents of the box. I bought this brand because we like it and because the bags are always just right. I contacted the company and they are going to send me a brand new box full of full teabags. Not only that, they are sending me a box to mail the “dud” box back so they can see for themselves. Disappointment comes in the strangest places and we are surely disappointed.

These things happen though.  You find something you enjoy and it is part of your regular life. Next thing you know the company improves it in some way and it’s no longer the quality you want. The occasional mistake in packaging is expected but a whole box of unfulfilled packages is just not right.

Life is a lot like those teabags.  Just as we find ourselves enjoying things the way we like them, something comes up short. We get disillusioned, dismayed and frustrated. We don’t find what we’re looking for anymore. Our dreams, our hopes, our pleasures come up short – we might even feel like life is a “dud”. Empty, broken promises and wishes cause us to wonder where the quality of life can really be found.  Some people will move on and search for the right thing elsewhere. Others just look at the emptiness and find blame, fault and bitterness.

When I found the Lord, I opened His box of love letters and read from them often. I pored over them and the concoction of grace, peace and joy was always there for me. In all the years I’ve known the Lord, not once has He come up empty, left me unfulfilled or broken a promise.  No “duds” in His Word ever. His promises prove to be true over and over and over again. His love proves to be full and rich no matter when I need it. It’s the same in the joys of life. It’s the same in the sorrows of hardship.  He’s never short of content and His promises are never hollow. I am so thankful that even when other things, other people, other desires fall short, God is always there, Perfect in all His Glory and Absolute in all His ways.

Oh beloved, you may have tasted of some sweet delight and discovered it didn’t live up to your expectations. You are left holding an empty bag of promises, expectations and desires. You’re pretty sure that your life is used up and only fit for the trash heap. Don’t despair! Run to the Lord this morning and give Him your empty “duds” and watch as He replaces them with all He has and all He is! He is the ultimate manufacturer – nothing He ever does is wrong. Nothing He ever makes is mismatched. Everything He has for you is available to you in such perfection that you’ll never go searching again! He is your all in all and provides strength in your weakness, hope in your despair, gladness for mourning and peace in the chaos of empty promises from other sources. His Word cannot fail you ever! His truth will not weaken ever! His love will not come up short for you ever! His care is perfect and He will not disappoint, no matter what! God will never leave you disappointed for His love and care is perfect and always available no matter what! And all His promises are free for the taking as you live in the light of His Word.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 145:13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.

Psalm 119:65  You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.

Isaiah 45:22 Let all the world look to Me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.

2 Corinthians 1:22 and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.

 1 Thessalonians 5:24 God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.

 

God is Faithful and That's the Truth

I bought a movie for my hubby for Father’s Day. Since he loves sci-fi I thought I’d get him a new one with a cast of great actors. About 8:30 last night we settled in to watch it. Not far into the show, however, I discovered that it just wasn’t something I wanted to watch.

The lead actor has never been in a movie I didn’t like. So I was well prepared to enjoy even the science-fiction version of something he does. But this was such an incredible stretch from his other movies. I found myself very disappointed in the actor and the movie.  I forgot that he is just an actor. He’s in it mostly for the money. The movies that actors are in don’t often mean anything to them personally. They don’t invest their hopes and dreams in the character they portray; they just learn the lines, act their part and collect the money.

We believers are not acting a part. We can’t just say the words, speak the sonnets, pray the prayers and collect the gifts God gives. We must throw ourselves into something we believe in. We must make sure that what we portray shows the Father heart of God! It won’t matter how good we “act” if our heart’s not in it. We have to decide at some point if we’re going to live for the Lord, even if it costs us everything.

Maybe you have been disillusioned by someone you thought really meant what they said. You believed them and you believed in them. They followed the lines, did a great job and yet you found out their heart wasn’t really in it. You were scorned by someone you thought was real only to find out they were merely an actor, imposter, a pretender. You thought you were loved, you thought you were cared about, you thought it was more than a whim. You’re hurting and you feel so betrayed. You trusted, you followed, you agreed and you cheered them on. Now you’re left alone, left out and feel like someone’s old discards.

In the big screen of life there is One who will never let you down, always live up to His standards, and give completely of Himself to help you believe.  He stoops to help you, pick you up and set you upright. He is the Truth in print, screen and life. He is pure, He is love, He is God!

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and let Him show you the Truth about Himself and about you! He will always lead you into His Truth and you will never be disappointed by a single word or action from Him! He is so incredibly committed to portraying Truth because He is Truth! He is completely committed to portraying Love because He is Love!  He is your way to faith, fellowship and a bright and promising future. If you will trust Him first and foremost, listen to His Words and follow His lead, you won’t have to worry about pretenders, imposters or actors.

Be real with God this morning and let Him show you the genuine favor, blessings and care He has for those who love Him. You’ll never be disappointed for His love is the real thing!

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." (NAS)

 

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (NAS)

 

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?

2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. (NAS)

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Good News in Spite of the Headlines

My brother visited us again over the week-end. We had a wonderful visit! We laughed and reminisced and watched old and new movies. We ate and fellowshipped and napped! I even watched a basketball game with him!

One thing my brother enjoys is watching news. He has his favorite channel and we watched that some. It didn’t take long to realize that most of the news is pretty negative about the future of our country and its economy. No one has real answers for what plagues us. For a country that espouses government of the people, by the people and for the people we are surely far from that these days.

There is much going on that brings chills to my heart and I’m sure many of you feel the same way. More and more rules are being written and less and less freedoms are being protected.  The news paints a bleak picture, even among the more conservative groups.  Each group says they have the answer and yet none of it sounds like a good prospect for the average citizen. More taxes, more laws, and less liberty. That scenario equals something I don’t even want to think of.  I found that by only watching a couple of hours of news that I was becoming more discouraged, worried, frustrated and insecure.

What is our hope for change?  Where can we go? Who has the answer? Who do we look to for help?

There is hope! There is help! There is an answer! While we can’t fix all the woes of the world in a day, we can begin with ourselves. In God’s Word is everything we need! We must go back to His Word and live by His precepts! We must return to the God of our childhood! We must fall on our faces before the Only One who can do anything!

Oh beloved, today is the day to call upon the Name of the Lord! You woke up this morning so that’s proof that God has a plan for your life! He is all you will ever need for living on this planet and for living in the light! Run to His Word quickly while there is still time and take it all in – find your reason for living, your way to live, your hope for redemption, your strength in the hardships, your manna in the wilderness, your shelter in the storm, your deliverance from captivity, your water from the rock, your light in the darkness, your help when you feel completely helpless and more! 

Trust Him today and give Him your whole heart, for His Name is Faithful and True. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the very best news!

Job 42:2 I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.

Revelation 19:11 After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse [appeared]! The One Who was riding it is called Faithful (Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible, Steady) and True, and He passes judgment and wages war in righteousness (holiness, justice, and uprightness). Amplified

Hebrews 12:28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe.

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on Him?

Psalm 91:2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him