“…But God: Scripture Writing Plan October 2024” 9/30/2024 Written by Elihu Anderson for “Elihu’s Corner”

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Written by Elihu Anderson  for “Elihu’s Corner” @   http://elihuscorner.com/

Original post @ https://elihuscorner.com/2024/09/30/but-god-scripture-writing-plan-october-2024/

God’s Love · Knowing God · Scripture Writing Plans · Trust

…But God: Scripture Writing Plan October 2024

Elihu

  

You’ve been there.

…that moment when hope is faint.

…that day when the very foundations seemed to crack.

…that time when your doubts were no longer a whisper, but a roar.

In short, you’ve been there, in that moment of bleak despair…

…but God steps in and transforms the narrative from one of defeat to one of victory.

This month’s plan is going to focus on the ways in which God, because of who He is, takes something terrible and transforms it into something triumphant. Being physical creatures, we can easily fall into the trap of becoming overwhelmed by circumstances and forget the outstanding power of the unseen yet powerful God.

Join us this month as we consider some of the many ways in which God helps His people.

To download a black and white printable copy of this month’s plan, click the link below:

Got little scripture writers?

Sara McBroom provides awesome tracing and copying sheets for the littles in your household. Click the link below to download and use!

kids scripture writing tracing october 2024Download

kids scripture writing copying october 2024Download

Please stop by the Elihu’s Corner page on Facebook or Instagram (@elihuscorner) and say hi! Each day’s scripture is posted with some reflections on the passage.

Looking for a different scripture writing theme? Check out the Scripture Writing Category to see choose from over 65 plans.

Published by Elihu

Elihu Anderson is a California refugee currently thriving on the West Texas plains. She is the founder of elihuscorner.com and is a contributor to Kirk Cameron’s website TheCourage.com. When she isn’t writing, reading, or teaching, she is sipping on some iced homemade chai and enjoying time with a good friend. Come by and say hi at elihuscorner.com or visit me on Facebook.com/elihuscorner 

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

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“Summer Memory Verses” 9/29/2024 Written by Bill Rudge for “Bill Rudge Ministries”

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Hebrews 4 12 - Scripture on the Walls

Written by Bill Rudge for “Bill Rudge Ministries” @  https://billrudgeministries.wordpress.com/

Original post @ https://billrudgeministries.wordpress.com/2024/07/03/summer-memory-verses/

Summer Memory Verses

July 3, 2024~ brm7

by Bill Rudge

While walking together around the ministry center or at a local park, Karen and I often quote Scripture and pray. I say the first part of the verse, then she says the rest. When we finish the scriptures, we pray. As well as being spiritually, physically and emotionally beneficial, it is a peaceful way to relieve stress.

The following are some of our favorite verses we have committed to memory. We hope they will bless you as they have us. You may want to look up each verse to get its meaning in context.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
1 John 4:4 “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.”
James 5:16 “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Creation

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

Peace and Joy

Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.”
Psalm 16:11 “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 84:11 “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk with integrity.”
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Seeking God

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Salvation

Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
1 John 5:11-13 “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Protection and Direction

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble, for the LORD your God goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Psalm 34:4, 7 “I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.”
Psalm 121:1-2 “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
Isaiah 43:2-3 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God.”
Zechariah 4:6 “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Faith and Confidence

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
2 Timothy 1:12 “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Hebrews 11:1, 6 “Now faith is the assurance [substance] of things hoped for [expected], the conviction [evidence] of things not seen. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Provision and Praise

Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”
Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.”
Mark 12:30 “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
John 13:34-35 “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Posted in Blog, Searching For God, Victorious Living,Bible,confidence,creation,Driection,Faith,Joy,memory verses,Peace,praise,Protection,provision,Salvation,SEEKING GOD

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

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“Christians…the only Faith that God will accept” 9/28/2024 Written by Louis Mize, a good friend

Posted on September 28, 2024 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Romans 12 2 - Scripture on the Walls

 Written by Louis Mize, a good friend  @  https://www.facebook.com/louis.mize

“Christians…the only Faith that God will accept”

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more, death hath no more dominion over him. v.10: For in that he died, he died into sin once; but in that he lives, he lives unto God.

Romans 6:9-10

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ sets us apart from all others. We KNOW that Christ has risen from the dead and that He is LORD. We know that He will NEVER die again. We KNOW that death has no more dominion over Him. And we KNOW that He lives now and forever more!

Romans 6 begins with liberal logic. Paul refutes this kind of ridiculous logic. It is an evil logic. It believes that since we are saved from our sins because Christ died for our sins, we should continue in sin so His grace may abound.

We didn’t die to make restitution for our own sins. Christ accomplished that for us. And His glorious resurrection from the dead accomplished eternal life for us too! This morning, I give thanks to Him again for His power to defeat death. And for the FACT that those of us who believe in HIM, shall live forever with Him. And that is no reason to live like the devil. Jesus has risen from the dead and HE alone is LORD!

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

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“No “Ifs” 9/27/2024 Posted by Alister Begg for www.truthforlife.org from Spurgeon’s writing

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Romans 8:28 | Coram Deo ~

Posted by Alister Begg for www.truthforlife.org  from Spurgeon’s writing

Original post @ https://info.truthforlife.org/higher-than-i?ecid=ACsprvtuNPXXXWtRGg_4S9hYUSMsGMnuhfmPXzbupinxDotW0F_Jet9yGlhozv-34OX1CBM8Zvm0&utm_campaign=Spurgeon%20Daily%20Devotion&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8dQ2WYUJSVeNu7I4QOuSDnBQhXiNJIp1oVoMZvtjYvM46wqg9WpwZM_76equT95MnYNxeTg6T_LGpYFUyDNBxzm4qdbUsqhZg8OfB5U0snoYVGmwo

September 23

No “Ifs”

And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:23

A certain man had a deeply troubled son who was afflicted with a spirit that struck him dumb. The father, having seen the futility of the attempts of the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ. Therefore, when he was invited to bring his son to Him, he said to Jesus, “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor trembling father had put the “if” in the wrong place. Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its legitimate position. “Actually,” He seemed to say, “there should be no ‘if’ about My power, nor concerning My willingness; the ‘if’ lies somewhere else. If you can believe, ‘all things are possible for one who believes.’”

The man’s trust was strengthened; he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the devil was cast out, with an injunction never to return. There is a lesson here that we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are continually blundering by putting it in the wrong place.

“If Jesus can help me”; “if He can give me grace to overcome temptation”; “if He can grant me pardon”; “if He can make me successful.” No; if you can believe, He both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” If you can confidently trust, even as all things are possible to Christ, so will all things be possible to you.

Faith stands in God’s power and is robed in God’s majesty; it wears the royal apparel and rides on the King’s horse, for it is the grace that the King delights to honor. Girding itself with the glorious might of the all-working Spirit, it becomes, in the omnipotence of God, mighty to do, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to one who believes. My soul, can you believe your Lord tonight?
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Photo credit:  https://www.google.com/imgres?q=image%20rom%208%3A28&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi0.wp.com%2Fcoramdeotheblog.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F09%2Fromans-828.jpg%3Fresize%3D611%252C285%26ssl%3D1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcoramdeotheblog.com%2Ftag%2Fromans-828%2F&docid=xOuExm4h1p_5kM&tbnid=SGGCGsHrMyI5sM&vet=1&w=611&h=285&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwjwlNWklOOIAxVaD1kFHaLSIvYQM3oECEwQAA
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“The Power of Waiting on the Lord” 9/26/2024 Posted by David Kitz for “I Love the Psalms”

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Psalm 46:10 - Artistic Bible

Posted by David Kitz for “I Love the Psalms” @  https://davidkitz.wordpress.com/

Original post found @ https://davidkitz.blog/2024/09/23/the-power-of-waiting-on-the-lord/

The Power of Waiting on the Lord

23MondaySep 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

Tags Christian living, faith, meekness, overcoming worry, patience, peace, Prayer, spiritual growth, trust in God, waiting on God

 

Reading: Psalm 37:7-11

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity (NIV).

tears on face of crop anonymous woman

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

 

Reflection
When I consider this passage from Psalm 37, two thoughts stand out: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him, and do not fret—it leads only to evil.

My natural tendency is not to wait or be still. I tend to fret and worry and then charge ahead simultaneously in different directions. Trust me; it’s hard to go in different directions at the same time. The result is usually a bad case of self-inflicted paralysis, which often results in—you guessed it—a renewed bout of fret and worry. When will I learn? When will we learn?

Being still before the LORD requires practice. It is a learned response, not a natural reaction. When we wait for the LORD, we show that we trust Him. We know that He has not forgotten us or the problems we face. In every situation He has our best interests in mind, even if we don’t understand the reasons, causes or solutions to our difficulties.

By being still and waiting before the LORD we demonstrate that we don’t have the answer within in ourselves. The answer—the solution—lies in Him. If we wait patiently, He will show us the way. And having waited patiently for Him, we can move forward with confidence when He gives us the green light.

It is quite likely that Jesus had the words of this psalm in mind when he gave these instructions in his Sermon on the Mount: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27).

We are to live in quiet confidence. In this psalm we read this promise, “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity” (v. 11). We can put our trust in the God who stands behind that promise.

Response: LORD God, help me to trust You today. Give me a peaceful heart that I may wait patiently for You even when the storms of life descend. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you tend to fret? Does quiet prayer still your worries?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=09316ee05d38bf12&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1112US1112&q=image+Ps+46:10&udm=2&source=univ&fir=KguBimTfD4zB0M%252CK_-JsR7ElSoooM%252C_%253BXzMHTBfmulH0yM%252C7M_GpHiusRri3M%252C_%253B8HAHM17h6a9BDM%252C7M_GpHiusRri3M%252C_%253B0S5VyuCzKJFNxM%252CPz-lVKPn2KvgJM%252C_%253B3YDGkMn1NB3n-M%252CEnCxzPdBVJkBZM%252C_%253BBs3gZFuaQl7-bM%252C1NEvaNQSCKwmBM%252C_%253Bf0ordXh9rRSAVM%252CCX7zzD5yXieb5M%252C_%253B-zrzteomvBpfsM%252C-r2sljpsxvWrsM%252C_%253Bopz2VUZknMiPZM%252CaqhtN2pURScp7M%252C_%253BCdY4kZCOP5ifUM%252Cr8f8NEtUHPwFWM%252C_%253BG2QdUpMtUX7FZM%252CJdCaM-a5Er5K5M%252C_%253BLlGJGqW0REFHvM%252CmtgLYpCR0GvQQM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kTx1ny1y_NT4rZMGiDd7ZZK_t_V8A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTv8zXkN-IAxW8FFkFHc0BBMUQ7Al6BAgTEAo&biw=1303&bih=910&dpr=1#vhid=eo_ZsTnPKF6zrM&vssid=mosaic
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“ContraryTo Popular Opinion your Gut isn’t Always Right 9/25/2024 Written by Tom for Pastor Jim Lee for “The Domain for Truth”

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Jeremiah 17:9-10 heart

Written by Tom for Pastor Jim Lee for “The Domain for Truth” @ veritasdomain.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2024/09/22/guest-post-contrary-to-popular-opinion-your-gut-isnt-always-right/

Guest Post: Contrary To Popular Opinion your Gut isn’t Always Right

 

September 22, 2024 by SLIMJIM

Note: This is a guest post by Tom.  Tom is a dear brother and friend on WordPress and I appreciate his faithfulness and ability to write so many posts on here.  His blog can be found here.

After my wife and I accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior through faith alone in 1983, we attended a Gospel-preaching, fundamentalist church that was HEAVY on the legalistic side. I have good memories of the church, but also some bad ones. It’s difficult to have joy in the Lord when guilt and shame are the “motivators” regularly coming from the pulpit.

At one service, Pastor John (I’ve changed people’s names for the purpose of this post) was preaching about feminism and he understandably didn’t have a lot of good things to say. He related that men and women have characteristics/qualities that are unique or more dominant according to their gender and are therefore better suited for particular roles. As an example, Pastor John claimed that women had an intuitive sense while most men were clueless. He used his wife, Paula, as an example, saying, “After coming home from church, I’ll remark to Paula, ‘Isn’t so-and-so such a great guy?’ And Paula will say, ‘Watch out for so-and-so. Don’t turn your back on him.’ My reaction is always, ‘Naw, not so-and-so.’ But sure enough, two months later so-and-so is causing some kind of trouble.”

I remember that sermon like it was yesterday. First of all, that’s definitely not something a pastor should reveal to their congregation. Every church member was thinking, “Hmm, I wonder what Paula says about me?” And then there’s this thing about women’s intuition. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that women as a general rule have a higher EQ (emotional quotient) than men. Women (generally) deal in emotion while men (generally) avoid emotion. Women can probably pick up on social cues a lot better than men. That’s said, it’s risky to use only emotion/intuition or “a feeling” as the arbiter in any evaluation or decision. It sounded like there also could have been an element of pride in Paula’s alleged acute sense of intuitiveness.

The sermon I’m referring to above was delivered around 35 years ago. Flash forward several decades later. John’s son, Peter, succeeded him as pastor of the church in 2011. In 2017, Peter was charged with molesting three young women who had been attending the church. He resigned as pastor and eventually accepted probation as part of a plea deal. Did Paula have an intuition about her son? I’m guessing she didn’t. In 2021, 71YO John was charged with sexually abusing two underage teenage children and also accepted probation as part of a plea deal. Did Paula have an intuition about her husband? I’m guessing she was oblivious.

Sorry for the shocking turn of events, but there’s a spiritual lesson in all of this.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? – Jeremiah 17:9

Intuition and feelings only go so far. Only God knows what’s going on in people’s hearts and minds. The “gut feeling” we have about someone or some circumstance could be entirely incorrect. We need to be in the Word daily and to commune with the Lord regularly in prayer. We need His wisdom and discernment and mustn’t depend on our own fleshly intuition. Even then, our insights into another person’s heart and mind are limited.

For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” –      1 Samuel 16:7

Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. – Psalm 44:21

Intuition is overrated. There’s a danger in making snap judgments about people.

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P.S. (from bruce)  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=02c44965d6d4b280&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1112US1112&q=image+jer+17:9&udm=2&source=univ&fir=ZIElSVu9l-CMlM%252CR8S_TD9tRruAXM%252C_%253BPPgenSm-VYtfUM%252CyNnEBo7_LHevVM%252C_%253BIb9goMmAp0Eu3M%252CNAu2KJH5nPCOKM%252C_%253BbtPJ-mBwWkqcEM%252C5JAPs7jj0dGDEM%252C_%253BG_JktI_O5KkVIM%252CiRKmsDFEX5BAdM%252C_%253BY_wBQ7xl4Fg_gM%252CMvFPPn05kW2QmM%252C_%253BGepVvkk_ZURhLM%252CuJ9O1TFtPZX7sM%252C_%253BqvKjr29xcCIXDM%252Cz6IJf_8Uwh361M%252C_%253BOxVVAC-TbmIu5M%252CkTIMv8KSZnI4bM%252C_%253Bv03E125CNL4gZM%252CF2uN5JBgjUWGqM%252C_%253BU2G_D_z6iiabsM%252CV18YW6e4oC9JkM%252C_%253BUXn3ysF8dIwSQM%252CWdanmHVHQlfIXM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kRB6TnU1k4rb1IYAagNjgZemiSO-Q&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQz46Ogt6IAxWtv4kEHfNQNioQ7Al6BAgREAo&biw=1303&bih=910&dpr=1#vhid=dSsZGNvwm4gtSM&vssid=mosaic
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“God’s Duo” 9/24/2024 Written by bruce r. mills for “God’s group”

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

bruce r mills on LinkedIn: “God's Duo” 7/15/2024 Written by bruce r. mills for “God's group”

Written by bruce r. mills for “God’s group”      [Revised from 12/22/2013]

“God’s Duo”

Hebrews 4:12-13…  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  (NKJV)

For those of you who have heard before, what I am about to write, I am sorry…  But for the new reader, whose problem of being attacked by Satan is a very real problem for all of us…

I spent the first 2 days (2/22 & 2/23/13) writing about the need for the Christian to be protected externally from Satan’s attacks… This can be accomplished by putting on piece by piece, the 6-piece set of God’s spiritual armor, which the Apostle Paul writes about in… Ephesians 6:10-20…   Here is the link for this description of God’s protective armor…    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph6:10-20&version=NKJV

The key scripture about God’s armor is…Ephesians 6:11… Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (NKJV)

The second part of what has absolutely helped me to be able to resist the temptations and evil thoughts Satan will use, to confuse and stop a Christian’s growth in their spiritual walk with the Lord…was finally accomplished by totally submitting my life to God…  Sounds simple, doesn’t it ??  Well, it took me 7 years from the time God graced me with salvation, to realize that I had somehow stopped allowing the Holy Spirit to be in total control of my life, without realizing it…

I was putting on the “whole armor of God” daily; and though Satan was constantly trying to tempt me to sin…I praise the Lord for the truth about His whole set of spiritual armor being able (for the most part) to fend off Satan’s attacks…  But my own flesh became an ever-increasing internal problem…

By neglecting to submit to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction, I had reached a point in my life where I had lost the fullness of joy (John 15:9-11), and the supernatural peace, which surpasses our mortal understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), that I once had, when I was Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:18-20), and walking in sweet fellowship with the Lord…

The Apostle James gives us the second piece of God’s duo, that will help Christians to be on their way to walking in the Spirit most of the time (Galatians 5:16)…

James 4:7-8… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit won’t insist on being in control of the Christian’s life…  And I must say, I believe my own flesh was (and still is) harder for me to keep under control than Satan himself…  As a matter of fact…it is impossible for me to keep my own flesh under control, in my own strength… Just as it was impossible to keep Satan’s temptations to sin under control, until I put on ALL of God’s spiritual armor, in its entirety…  Without God’s grace…God’s complete set of spiritual armor firmly in place…and the full power of the Holy Spirit…I am absolutely nothing…

It was only by humbling myself into total submission to God…begging for Him to give me back the joy and the supernatural peace that I once had…that by God’s grace, the full power of the Holy Spirit took back total control of my life…

I attribute humbling myself before the Lord to a 6,000-word preaching by the REV. C.H. Spurgeon titled…”Grieving the Holy Spirit” that I read…and I would urge every Christian to spend time reading…  It can be found at this link…

http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/sermons/0278.htm

Do I sin ??  Absolutely !!  For one thing, I believe the tongue is absolutely impossible to be kept under control…James 3:8-10… 

This is a day-by-day, sometimes minute-by-minute struggle that all Christians will have, to remain walking in sweet fellowship with the Lord…  Sins must be quickly confessed and turned from…1 John 1:9…  But the truth that Jesus’ half-brother James writes about in this scripture above…at least for me…seems to lessen the number and severity of the sins that I still commit…as the weeks and the months of constant dedication to following Christ roll on…  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”…

Friends, these aren’t just words out of some book… These are words of truth from God’s Word…as my personal process of sanctification (being conformed to the image of Christ…Romans 8:29) is still occurring… The word sanctification is defined as being set apart…  God has chosen His children out of this world…  Christians are still living here, but they become citizens of heaven…Philippians 3:20…

Jesus tells us this about sanctification, in…

John 17:16-19… They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.  (NKJV)

Friends, God’s inerrant Word, the Bible…“is living and powerful”…  It is where we all need to concentrate our efforts, in order to receive the truth that God will use to set us free from Satan, and his bonds of sin and shame… John 8:32… “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (NKJV)

God’s Word is called “the sword of the Spirit”, by the Apostle Paul in…Ephesians 6:17b…  And as the only offensive piece of God’s 6-piece set of spiritual armor…God’s Word is where we learn about all the other 5 pieces of God’s armor, to defend God’s children from Satan’s attacks… But faith is the most important piece of God’s spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:16)…  Without faith, we cannot please God…Hebrews 11:6…  And this same scripture verse tells us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him…

Heavenly Father, I pray Your Word, would cut right to the soul of those who need the saving grace You promise to those who seek Your Son Jesus Christ to become their personal Lord and Savior…  I pray Lord, that my personal testimony of lost joy and peace…and then the restoration of both by the power of the Holy Spirit…will have others diligently opening Your Word, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14) as their defense from Satan; and to receive the blessings You promise to Your obedient children…  I pray for this fullness of Christ in all of us, in Jesus’ most precious name, and for His sake…Amen…

Blessings in Christ, bruce

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P.S.   When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit:  https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SLLM_enUS1047US1047&sxsrf=APwXEdcsYMNrsCAD_zBtz1p5QPc-R9sL3Q:1680664461049&q=image+James+4:7-8&source=univ&fir=f0c3DRu9Krd4QM%252CLKUuuqV_mUY_JM%252C_%253BV0bHbZG-aKpoPM%252CBzh3U0TL66LeAM%252C_%253BBipVt49_FSvIyM%252CMW50oeGg9_pSlM%252C_%253B26Lr-5d5lSozCM%252CVgK_UlPLlAIvmM%252C_%253BGWSQpisBntc9FM%252CPCFAnksVLzcZnM%252C_%253B2e0BSELqbSb2aM%252CuUOmgrkN1WByrM%252C_%253BqeKI1FXsU_YmLM%252CDDKaJWHO-mwMtM%252C_%253BnqEL6QluOsGn5M%252Ccg7ganJsIqPDqM%252C_%253BMDugoq2qor-ejM%252CBzh3U0TL66LeAM%252C_%253B14-cVtXCpWQ6fM%252CPK34txY0EsbB6M%252C_%253BoJrWw47ArI9VFM%252CHV9RydIe9EZrzM%252C_%253BuPudnAZapUWHeM%252C-ad25pay4gH68M%252C_%253BAd6KyZ32COgfCM%252CDXrZcDSp3vI_UM%252C_%253Bf94FBsf-bMnQ7M%252Ck4-zI3QkUgEHiM%252C_%253Bt9vhlnwggHmrFM%252CPf_rpgm5WDSG1M%252C_&usg=AI4_-kTjIUh-2tvdhvsTRPc6qjTbGgu1zg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjcxb-B45H-AhWWI0QIHXXEBvoQ7Al6BAgfEDk&biw=821&bih=482&dpr=1.25&udm=2#vhid=Ewvl5uQndeNmKM&vssid=mosaic
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“Three Ways to Enjoy God” 9/23/2024 Written by Nancy Ruegge for “From The Inside Out”

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

21 Bible Verses about 'Enjoy' - NLT & NKJV - DailyVerses.net

Written by Nancy Ruegge for “From The Inside Out” @  http://nancyaruegg.com

View original post @ https://nancyaruegg.com/2024/09/19/three-ways-to-enjoy-god/

Three Ways to Enjoy God

September 19, 2024 by Nancy Ruegg

(An imaginary conversation between God and me, but I invite you to put your name in the blanks):

ME: You’ve heard me say, Lord, “I can’t imagine life without You,” because You’ve been an invaluable, all-wise influence through the years.

You’ve provided protection, guidance, care, and more. Just knowing You are with me gives me comfort, strength, and peace.

GOD: Ministering to you in these ways has been My delight, __________. I do love to see you practicing My presence—asking for My help and connecting with Me through praise and prayer.

As you draw near to Me, you experience wonder, quiet, calm, and warmth.

ME: Thank you Father for these blessings! But I’m still on the learning curve of sustained awareness. Distractions frequently interfere. It seems I’ll never attain moment-by-moment communion with You.

GOD: I understand, __________. Remember, I’m the One who made you and am well aware you cannot achieve perfection [1].

What I value is progress, and rest assured, that is occurring.

Think back to the days when you experienced great difficulty practicing My presence. Your thoughts rarely turned toward Me once your morning quiet time was over—unless you ran into trouble.

Now you come to Me much more frequently, giving Me the opportunity to strengthen and encourage you. Keep coming back to Me, __________.

The day will come when we enjoy almost-unbroken communion and it will be all the sweeter for the wait. Meanwhile, there are habits of thought to embrace that will advance your progress toward that day:

BE ATTENTIVE TO MY ATTRIBUTES

Stay alert to discover reminders of Me everywhere. And let each discovery bring to mind one or more of My attributes.

As attentiveness leads to praise and praise to joy, you’ll find yourself nestled more closely to My side. That’s where I long for you to be!

BE GRATEFUL FOR MY BLESSINGS

Ask yourself throughout the day, “What can I thank God for right now?”

For example, your answer in this moment might include the colorful fall flowers in the deck planter—a delight for your eyes—enjoyed in the surroundings of My living room [2].

And as we enjoy such blessings together, you’ll find your heart drawing close to Me.

AFFIRM MY PROMISES

Come worship at My footstool, __________ (Psalm 132:7).

Look up into My face and see in My eyes the love I have for you. See in My smile the delight you bring Me. Imagine My hand upon your back and feel My compassion.

Now, breathe out your cares and breathe in the truth of My promises. Listen closely as I affirm:

  • I love you __________ with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

  • I will always help you (Isaiah 41:13).

  • My lovingkindness prevails over you (Psalm 117:2 AMP).

  • I am in control of all things (Ephesians 4:6).

  • I will work all things together for the good of those who love Me, who seek to live out My purpose for them (Romans 8:28).

It delights Me that you want to be more aware of My presence. Know that I take deep pleasure in every occasion you turn your attention toward Me.

Know too that beautiful transformation is taking place within you each time you do because you can’t spend time in My presence and not grow more into My likeness [3].

 *      *      *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

ME: Thank You, Father, for encouraging me toward greater intimacy with You, to enjoy You more fervently. Help me pause and sense Your presence, even in the ordinary moments of life.

May I create space for You through attentiveness to Your attributes on display, gratitude for Your countless blessings, and review of Your uplifting promises.

May I remember:

 I don’t want to miss that pleasure, even for a moment.

[1] Psalm 103:13-14

[2] Those of you who visit here often will probably remember that Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Publishing, is the one who calls the outdoors God’s living room. I love that imagery!

[3] 2 Corinthians 3:18

Photo credits: http://www.canva.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.picryl.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.freerangestock.com; http://www.canva.com.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Photo credit: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=445c9ec50e6b4223&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1112US1112&q=Image+enjoying+God+Bible&udm=2&source=univ&fir=htAzVmruM03tJM%252CvnOee8KZ7O8PfM%252C_%253BVE_vU7rT1IHUTM%252CsuZIOZaCwsGvnM%252C_%253BweV1Aac_UW5DtM%252C7lb1Z2G2tfnOfM%252C_%253BOf7_5INm-cW9uM%252CTGQ8buXk8ihmxM%252C_%253B-iQ7Ql0vyslXgM%252CRsGBzqLH7hOK2M%252C_%253BkMZpQNL9cINa-M%252CsuZIOZaCwsGvnM%252C_%253BKX5Q1qP83sYFkM%252CQJoZMPk4MbWQJM%252C_%253BJXkOavZ8FFrINM%252CJmDK4oHp8aKdyM%252C_%253Bh270t01HKgkVlM%252CRsGBzqLH7hOK2M%252C_&usg=AI4_-kRfjIhud8MobsoZ-AVUAp9Kllqv1w&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwinmJKZhdmIAxXbmYkEHfWVPDAQ7Al6BAgUEAo&biw=1303&bih=910&dpr=1#vhid=iwhc7KlrFrBpPM&vssid=mosaic
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“Living life to the full” 9/22/2024 Written by Dr. Lawson Murry for “SEIZE The DAY”

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 1:21-22 - JeffRandleman.com

Written by Dr. Lawson Murry for “SEIZE The DAY”  @  https://seizetheday-blog.com

Original post @  https://seizetheday-blog.com/2024/08/26/living-life-to-the-full-5/

Living life to the full

 

August 26, 2024

For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Philippians 1:21 (NLT).

Live for Jesus, from beginning to end, that’s all that really matters. A man was once asked, “What do you want to be when you grow older?” He answered, “Retired!” That makes me shudder. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “retire” as “leave work, withdraw, seek seclusion, go to bed.” Those are scary words for me (not the go to bed part, I enjoy a good night’s sleep). While I know my body will wind down and I won’t have the energy I had when I was younger, I still want to live life to the full. I want to squeeze every last drop out of every minute of every day. I want to give it my all – joining God in what He’s doing. “Keep on keeping on.” That’s my motto. I’m never going to retire.

2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “We never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day” (NLT).

Hopefully I’ll be enthusiastic right up to my dying breath. “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm” Anonymous. Even though my eyes may grow dim and my legs get a little shaky, I want to stay youthful in my attitudes and perspectives. When my face needs a lift and my stomach needs a tuck, I’m going to try and love my wife as enthusiastically as the day we were married and love my children as much, if not more, than the day they were born. And when my teeth get rinsed in a glass, I’m going to stick them back in my mouth and tell others about the Lord with all the eagerness I can muster.

Deuteronomy 6:13 is my life text. “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” (NLT). That’s what I’m going to do to my final day. Yes, I will probably have to be retreaded a couple of times along the way. But just as soon as I’m retreaded, I’ll be back on the road!

If the purpose of life is to live for Christ, then I must aim to leave a legacy of a changed life that changed lives. What’s your legacy? Can you join Paul in saying, “For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better” Philippians 1:21 (NLT). Hopefully you can. But if you can’t, it’s never too late to start living for Jesus. God’s grace and provision will enable you to get started today. So live for Jesus, that’s what matters!

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 P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Photo credit:  https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=89b9e73d172150e9&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1112US1112&q=image+phil+1:21&udm=2&source=univ&fir=mzEWyxjpo5I3gM%252CsGp4sjjsGu7r2M%252C_%253B4BVnHd0K7TS2NM%252CYaz0BCjBKnaWHM%252C_%253Bg3HiVMPtKJiLUM%252CTuwSDx0I3gee7M%252C_%253Bz-WXewmJ_RKtBM%252CmEj2PM_HH7m_CM%252C_%253BWMYH-TZ_GXZxNM%252CMhAHt51hgc4oCM%252C_%253Bgn6dH5w1urM45M%252CHFB7xxdZyV64kM%252C_%253BqlO5x6TH6c5fnM%252Cd-wTUrb81wIEQM%252C_%253B2Uovru3oLCg2JM%252CHYtUgzOWRfI-bM%252C_%253BfwyWMY4Pc2gVWM%252CYKcLClvHO5oK8M%252C_%253BxZeFDZmDCS7RNM%252
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DEEPEST GRIEF!” 9/21/2024 Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank for “Kingdom Pastor”

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Godsmanforever

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Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank for “Kingdom Pastor”  @  https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/deepest-grief/

Deepest Grief!

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Pastor Randy

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“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.”  Isaiah 53:3

 

Grief is another of the tools of the trade used by our Enemy to make us dread another week, another day, even another minute.  Our source of grief can be the death of a family member or friend.  Just yesterday we found out our family doctor’s wife died after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Dr. Wampler is more than our doctor.  I consider him a friend.

And if it isn’t death that causes us to grieve, then it is the ordinary “stuff” of everyday life.  The loss of a job, a home, a marriage, a friendship.  And if that isn’t enough to make us grieve, then there is the news—the heartaches and tragedies we see in the news.  Without some comfort and relief, grief drains us of peace, hope, and even our purpose in life.

And so, we have these words from Isaiah.  Did you catch the last two words?  Deepest Grief!  Not to minimize our griefs, He has experienced deepest griefs.  His is deepest griefs not by comparison to our griefs, but because He takes into the deepest part of His heart, our griefs.  All our griefs, all of everyone’s griefs.  And He does this for only one reason:  He Loves Us Completely And Unconditionally.

God hears our cries this morning.  We can cry to Him because He has felt, feels now, and will always feel the pain of grief.  We need to turn our grief over and release it to His grace and compassionate love.  For it is His heart—His love that always reaches out to us, to heal us and make us whole.  We need deliverance from the easy thing of pointing out the symptoms of what we think causes our griefs.

 All we need to do is tell Him.  Tell Him honestly everything you feel.  Even if—especially when you are angry and blame Him.  Then simply lean on Him and listen—listen as He pulls you against His chest, so close you can heart His heartbeat—the heartbeat that is for you.  Then He will begin to heal your broken heart and bring back the peace, hope and purpose that you thought was long gone.  He went the distance for your heart—all the way to the Cross.  Then He went the distance to reclaim your heart—to that tomb and then He walked out of that tomb in victory!

When you know He feels the deepest grief—your grief—and remember that He does it for you out of deepest love—and will restore your heart, then you can say, “Good!  Lord it’s Monday!  What shall we do together this week?”  Let’s pray:

Lord here is why I am grieving……..(put your list of griefs here)……  It hurts and honestly, I wonder where is the hope?  Where is that peace?  How can I go on?  I share my questions with You because You know the deepest grief.  I trust You now to lead me out of my grief.  You walked to the Cross and walked away from the Tomb.  I know You will do the same for me.  Even if I don’t see how….I know You see the way.  Amen and Amen…

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

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