God Will Do This

Posted on May 13, 2014by rebekahbeene

This morning I am waking up to a chilly rainy morning. One of those days where you just want to stay inside, hold onto a warm cup of coffee and read a good book. I’m going to have to get out into it eventually and head to work. I am amazed that it’s so nice and cool. For me the weekly rain and cooler temps is just fine. As my dad used to say, “this is good sleeping weather”. We nurse that cup of coffee for all we can get out of it.

We all experience chilly days. Those days when we’d rather stay in the bed. There are times when we’d rather not greet the dreariness. We want coffee, but we want it to do more than it does. While it’s warm and comforting, it really won’t make us feel better in the long run. We may drown ourselves in a good book but it’s just a story and eventually we’ll find the end and have to come out of the mystery, adventure and fiction.

There are times we’d rather not face life at all. It can get dreary. We try to find something to lift our spirits but things have gone oh so wrong and we just can’t believe the downpour of emotions we feel as we struggle to face the truth and make sense out of it all. We try to “pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps” and remind ourselves that “God helps those who help themselves.”  Still we feel stuck in the doldrums and depression may start creeping in, seeping like rain beneath the windowsills or under the door stop. If we keep nursing that hurt, that despair, that trouble we will find ourselves fully wedged under our circumstances. 

Thankfully for the child of God we don’t have to escape life to step into His presence.  We don’t have to pick ourselves up or help ourselves. For precious one, God wants you to know this day that He helps those who simply can’t help themselves. He picks His own up when they are crushed by the circumstances of life and holds them tightly. He is your never failing umbrella in the rain, the shade in the heat of life’s harshest days and the Protector of all who feel so unprotected. He is your Helper! He is your Source of strength! He is your Sun in the rain and your Shield forever! You are His precious beloved possession. And He takes care of His own. He blesses you when you feel unworthy. He drenches you with His ointment of faith and joy when you feel so dry. He covers you with His love and His care. Totally cared for by God Himself you don’t have to regret getting up for this may be the very day you have been waiting for.

Oh beloved, don’t rue the weather. Rejoice instead in God! Remind yourself of what Jesus has done for you! Drink deeply of the water of Life and immerse yourself in God’s Good Book. Every blessing, every promise, every hope, every security is yours. God wrote it all out so that just when you needed it you would find it.  No blanket or quilt can feel so good as the Comforter’s magnificent care. Don’t nurse your problems but rehearse God’s truth. Read it aloud and watch the damp feelings recede back where they come from.

You are an overcomer, you are a blessed believer and God has a future for you, even in this dreary, rainy day – even in what looks to the natural eye to be a dreary life. This day is wonderful because you are in Christ!  God loves you – eternally, perfectly, faithfully. And He is for you – with mercy, goodness and redemption.  What a wonderful Savior and what a wonderful life when you walk in the Light of His Word!

I Corinthians 1:9 God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah 33:2 But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for You. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.

Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat…  NAS

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

Thank you to Rachel at http://cuppacards.blogspot.com/ for today's artwork. Perfect!

You Have Shelter in the Storm

Last night I listened to the ice falling from limbs and the occasional limb falling too. I am so thankful to be in a nice warm house. I’m also glad that the weather man warned the area of impending weather. We had extra wood ready in case our lights stayed out for a lengthy time. We even have foods that are easy to prepare or heat in the fireplace so a meal can be enjoyed no matter what. Occasionally a huge limb would hit the house and it sounded as though it would come through the roof. The morning light will show whether any of the limbs are actually damaging anything. Generally the sounds of the night are found to be less horrific by the light of day.

Life has its storms. There are times when we see the problem coming and we can prepare for the worst. Other times we are caught by surprise. We didn’t see the situation unfolding until everything begins crashing in around us.  If we’re not careful we’ll find ourselves in the cold and unable to protect ourselves. Darkness will surround us and we’ll be so fearful for our life.  The icy reality of bad reports, terrible news or troubled times find us scurrying to find warmth anywhere we can.

But we don’t have to be afraid. We are not just another character in an ice storm. We are chosen and redeemed to live a life that gives honor and glory to God. We don’t ever have to go hungry, stay cold or live in the dark.  Especially when things are crashing down around us. We may not have been prepared for the situation, we may have had no warning, but God was already preparing for us a place of refuge with warmth and light and sustenance to make it through. We may think great damage is being done, but because of God’s great love for us the Light of the Son will show us when the storm has passed that we are not damaged beyond repair and that we are still able to live as chosen children of the Most High God.

Storms will come, but God will be with us. Darkness will threaten us but the Son of Righteousness is our everlasting light. We may hunger for His presence, but we never go hungry, for He is always with us, to guide us, direct us and keep us safe all through the night.

Oh beloved, don’t despair. Don’t sit and listen to the sounds of the darkness. Light the candle of God’s Truth and shine it throughout your heart.  He is protecting you, you are walking in His safety and He will overcome these present events. Your power will not go out because it is God’s power within you. You will never hunger or thirst, no matter how rough the weather of your life gets. As long as you look to Jesus, as long as you remember God’s Word, as long as you rehearse the blessings of being a child of God, you will overcome this present darkness and live to share the glory of God with others who are going through the storms of life. You are walking in His favor as you live in His light. You are experiencing His peace as you walk through the storm.

You are loved and you are cared for and that’s all that matters as you live in the Light of His glory and grace.

Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.

Psalm 112:4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until the danger passes by. NLT

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.

Philippians 4: 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].  AMP

When Storms Come Get Ready to Report!

As I watch the Weather Channel, I am amazed that those reporters will stand outside to report, even in the gales of hurricanes! As the storm approaches they begin to find it harder and harder to stand.  The wind and the rain beat against them with all the forces of nature. Hats are blown off and jackets are flapping. But those reporters, having been given the task of informing the public, make their stand. No matter what, they hold their ground through it all.   

They could walk away. They could focus on the storm and say it’s not worth it. They could become afraid of the bad weather.  They could get mad at the station manager for giving them that dangerous assignment.  Or, they could remember their calling and hold their ground. 

Are you thinking about walking away this morning? Where is your focus? On the storm? Are you focusing on your wants and your feelings?  Are you losing your footing and thinking that enough is enough? Whatever your feelings, whatever storm is raging in your life, God is with you!  No storm lasts forever, but God’s people do. 

Oh beloved when the storms of life are raging, stand with the Lord! Stand under His wings, kneel in the shadow of His Name and hold on for your life! When the storm subsides, not only will you be standing, you will have something wonderful to report to the people! God reigns! God’s Word is True! He will see you through. You will be reporting that the storm you went through could not overtake you, the flood you walked through could not drown you, the momentary light afflictions could not get you off your mark! Because God loves you and He’s for you, no matter your circumstances, no matter the weather, that’s all that really matters.

Isaiah 4:6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.

Isaiah 25:4 But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall

Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

1 Chronicles 16:8  Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.

Hijacked by Malicious Thinking? Run to God's Word for Protection!

One of my friends was telling me yesterday that when she got home from work she discovered a pop up on her computer.  It read that it was a warning from the FBI, something like this “Warning. Your computer has been blocked due to illegal downloads of music.” It went on to give detailed instructions to go to the local discount store, purchase a $200 money card and go to their website. Enter that money in the website for the fine and the owner of the computer would then have their computer unlocked. Imagine the person who has been downloading music finding this on their computer. The hijacker who built the program desires to get rich at the expense of an unwitting computer owner.  

Malware. Malicious programming appearing real that hijacks your computer. Some malware is fairly benign. Other programs are serious business. From minor irritation to complete ruination of the hard drive, malware is rampant. If we don’t keep our virus software updated and turned on anyone one of us is subject to succumbing to this nuisance.

We too as believers are subject to malicious programming.  The enemy of our souls wants to speak lies and half truths into our hearts. His desire is to strike terror and make us believe we have to pay over and over again for things in our life that we try to overcome.  If he can hijack our faith he can render us useless in the Kingdom of God.

Oh beloved, are you feeling tortured by past regrets and future fears? Are they playing over and over in the screen of your mind and heart? Have you tried to pay up only to find that the cost is way too high? Run to the Lord this morning and tell Him all your troubles. He will restore you to right standing with Him and He will wipe your life clean by His atoning blood.  Not only that, His Word is your best protection against the viruses of life that will try to come back on you.  His love is your complete protection, His Word is your soul survival and His promises are your road of blessing. Unlike computer hijacks that can wipe out your computer, God’s Word always restores and always covers so that we can always walk in the Light of His Word! What a Savior! What a Protector! Thank Him today for His unspeakable gift!

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.

Psalm 31:4  Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in You alone.

Psalm 91:4  He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Proverbs 30:5  Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.

Isaiah 33:21  The LORD will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon.