Dangers Abound! But God is Greater!

A rattlesnake, 2 tarantulas and a scorpion have been found in areas across the CMA Campground. Our little Caleb picked up a stick by our campsite and got stung by a wasp. Sounds like a dangerous place to be! There are hidden dangers as well – old stump holes, piles of leaves, potholes and more.

If we concentrated on the dangers we’d just pick up camp and go home. Why take the chance? Go find a safe place and hide out there. The only problem with this thinking is the same risks are found at home. All I have to do is look around and see: spiders in the corners, wasps on the eaves and snakes in the grass. I can spend all my time looking for these and more. No matter what I do, dangers still abound.

Oh beloved, what are you concentrating on? If you concentrate only on troubles and seek to avoid them, you will be frustrated and sleepless. But if you will look to the Lord and seek His face these barriers will no longer seem so big. Rather, God will increase your faith and make your way less fraught with concern. He says to you this morning Turn your eyes on Me. Yes,there are dangers lurking everywhere but I AM over all and I AM your source of safety for all your spiritual, emotional and physical life. I AM the One who sets your feet upon the Rock and gives you sure footing throughout your life so that you can live for Me free of the fears that keep others from moving on to higher things. Your heart and your soul belong to Me so let Me teach you how to be fearless and overcome!

Run to His Word today and read for it is the Ultimate Safety Manual! God loves you perfectly and watches over you continually. His plan for you is magnificent as you turn your eyes away from worldly cares and look full in His Wonderful Face!

2 Samuel 22:3  my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.

Job 11:18 Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.

Psalm 16:9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Ezekiel 34:31 You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”

To Sail on with the Lord You Must let Go of the Shore

Stella is getting sturdier on her feet. While she’s not walking alone all across the floor yet, she will let go of one piece of furniture and take a couple of steps to the next one. It takes her a moment. She will hold on with one hand and spy her next spot. Then after careful consideration, you can see her little mind working, she lets go and goes for the next one.  It’s cute and we all applaud and whoop! Sometimes she doesn’t quite make it and down she goes.  When she first started, she cried every time she went down. Now she just plops and readjusts.  Sometimes her brothers get right in her way just as she steps and down again she goes.

We often want to set out into uncharted waters. We’re certain in our hearts that something is over there. But by our calculations it’s a pretty wide chasm. We wonder about the dangers ahead. We wonder about the things that could get in our way.  We think we hear the Lord beckoning us to let go of the shore, but it’s a daunting process.  Can we trust ourselves? What if we get loose and go down?

Oh beloved, it’s time to set sail. It’s time to reach beyond your present circumstances. It’s time to move out of your fears, your mistakes, your troubles and move on into the future. If you belong to the Lord, your life is no longer your own.  He says to you, let Me take you beyond yourself. Let Me relieve your fears and show you how to live free of the ropes that hold you so tightly to your present shore. It’s beautiful ahead and I am choosing to use you to follow Me. Unless you’re willing to let go of your present comfort, you will never truly set sail with Me.

Yes, the waters may be deeper, there may be obstacles ahead, but with the Lord’s applause as you go, what else is needed? He loves you and together you and He will do marvelous things with your life! He’s on your side so every worry is taken care of, and every fear is calmed. Set sail today for this is the day you have!

 John 10:4 After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Psalm 121:3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

 

 

Got Challenges? The Word of God is Your Stepping Stone

Our family loves the Indiana Jones movies. No matter how many times we watch them, we still get involved in the plots. In The Last Crusade’s opening, we find our hero contending with not only the bandits chasing him, but also the train's inhospitable occupants. Indy is continually fighting for and against things and people, but somehow wins in spite of the disastrous situations in his life.  My favorite scene is of a passageway of stepping stones marked with individual letters. For this challenge Indy deduces that he must spell the name of God in order to proceed. As he makes the first step, the rock collapses beneath him and he nearly falls into an enormous chasm below.  He regroups and thinks of the correct spelling for the Name of God and proceeds, carefully at first and then with confidence gets through the test. It is only by stepping correctly that he survives to advance.

In many ways we believers are like Indiana Jones. Our lives are fraught with dangers, trials and snares. The enemy gives us trouble and we have to find our way through to victory. Challenges are presented and we must figure out the route God wishes for us to take. Just as Indy had to spell out the name of God correctly to move ahead, we too must know God’s Word and His Character to make it.

Oh beloved, your route may be hard today. You may be wondering why yet another obstacle is looming before you. You’ve worked and planned and prayed, but troubles seem unavoidable.  His Word is your victory! His Name is your passage through! Run to Him this morning and talk with Him, for together you and He can formulate a plan, lead by the Lord Jehovah Himself, that will cause you to be more than victorious! It will give you a joyful plan for this day and bright hope for tomorrow, no matter what life brings. He loves you so much that He not only gave you the route to Heaven, He’s able to get you through this life as an overcomer! 

Ephesians 1:11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.

Psalm 119:133 Guide my steps by Your Word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

John 16:33   I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

I John 5:4-5 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.