Showing posts with label terror. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terror. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

How's Your Story Going?


We were reading a book, Caleb and I, the other night, and he picked the book from my hands and began reading it by himself.  He’d say a little something about a story for each page. Finally he closed the book and said The End.   Most fairy tales and homespun stories are told with the same lines at the end -  “And they lived happily ever after. The End.”

Life’s story has many twists and turns. There are dark days full of terror. There is love found and love lost. There is espionage and intrigue. There are happy days and joyful moments. There is much laughter as well as blinding tears. The plot will thicken and every story contains a nemesis and things to overcome.

The Gospel Story is wonderful news for everyone. No matter what your background, who you know, where you’ve been or your past regrets- the Gospel fits. It is the only thing that spans the gap between us and heaven. No matter who you are or what you look like, it’s tailor made for you – it fits perfectly for everyone.   The Gospel is the incredible bridge between life and death which promises to take us home to be with our Savior forever. It is our happily ever after where the end is just the beginning.

But we have a story to live between the front and back covers of our lives.  For those who know the Lord, we have the Happy Ending sewn up. It’s a done deal – heaven is real and we are waiting for the moment we can step onto the soil of it’s magnificent realm. We will see our Jesus face to face. Whatever else we do, however else we are, we are going to love it! In the meantime, we’ve got to build our story and live our life.  Who is going to get us through and how are we going to survive? It’s a rough world and the twists and turns sometimes get harder and harder.

The Gospel is not just The End, it’s the prologue, it’s the highlights, it’s the plot, it’s the main character and it’s the way we get through! The Gospel is our ticket to heaven but it’s also our reason to live! If God had only given us hope for heaven, it would be enough, but He’s done more for us than many of us realize. He has given us a ticket for the train ride of life as well. 

Oh beloved, God wants you to know this morning that He understands your story. He knows when it’s been hard to resist temptation, He knows when you’ve heard His voice but followed another. He knows  when your weaknesses outweighed His plan for you. He knows the twists and turns and hopes and dreams that you hold in the deepest recesses of your heart. But there’s nothing to fear, for each day the story unfolds of your life with a fresh start! Yesterday doesn’t matter, but Today is a new chapter! Today you can live a higher plane, resist the lower life and become a daring hero or heroine for Him.

Run to His Word this morning, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and read – His Word is your guide, His Gospel is your plot, and The entire Bible is your guideline.  Everything you need for your life, your troubles, your story is found there. Let the Lord write your story and let Him fill your pages with His blessings and glory and honor. For He loves you so much that He made a way for your story to turn out oh so very good because He will be with you until the very End where you and He live happily ever after!

Psalm 48:14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death. (NAS)

Psalm 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Psalm 32:8 The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Psalm 143:8 Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.

Friday, November 23, 2012

God Will Always Shine His Light for you in the Night

Family gatherings always bring memories of childhood past. My brother and one of my cousins were talking about being afraid of the dark.  Johnny shared that he spent the night with someone when he was about 8 years old and they had a deer mount on the wall of the bedroom he slept in. Only he didn’t notice it until he was in bed and the light was out. Since it was dark he couldn’t really make out what it was. So his imagination went wild! By morning light he realized his fears were for naught.

It’s a fact, young or old, your mind plays tricks on you in the dark. For kids, what looks like a monster in the room turns out to be a pile of clean clothes in the daylight.  What seems to be so overwhelming when you’re going through hard times or tough issues suddenly melts away as you shine the light of God’s Word on that situation.  

Are you worrying about things you cannot control? Do you feel as though there’s an elephant on your chest or a colossal pile of trouble in the room of your life? Is there no way to see any light to help alleviate the situation? It can be especially hard when the world you know as safe and secure is changing so much. We live in troubled times and it feels as though everything that can be shaken is being shaken right down to the foundation.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord, Your Protector, Your Provider, Your Promise Keeper! His Word is your secure light that never goes out no matter how dark things get. He will always shine His Truth on your hurts, pains or troubles. He promises that all things, your things, will work for good.  How can you trust Him in the dark? By allowing His Word into your heart. By living by the Light of His Holy Name. For as long as you look full into His Face and stay focused on His Word, you will have no fear for God is with You! His Name, His Essence, His Nature is Love! Let Him take your dark places and show you there’s nothing to fear as together you walk with Him in the Light of His Awesome Word! He loves you always and He’s on your side now and forever and that’s what will give you rest from fear and peace in your heart when the night is long. Hallelujah to the One Whose light shines eternally!

John 12:46  I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

Psalm 4:8  In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

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.

John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

I Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (Amplified)

Lamentations 3:57 Yes, You came when I called; You told me, “Do not fear.”