Monthly Archives: April 2014

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He Cares

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Jehovah God, Our Heavenly Father, is not some cold, uncaring deity who is distant and aloof.
My God cares about me. He cares about you. He cares about every living thing, but He cares most about people.
How do I know that?

He collects my tears in a bottle. (Psalms 56:8)
He knows when a sparrow falls, tells me I am more important than a bird, and counts the number of hairs on my head. (Matthew 29:29:30)
He sings and rejoices over me. (Zephaniah 3:17)
He answers me when I call. (Psalm 120:1)

Here are a few other scriptures that need to be read in full:
Psalms 140:12 (AMP), “I know and rest in confidence upon it that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure justice for the poor and needy [of His believing children].”

Psalms 103:6-8 (NIV),”The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

Jesus said that He came to show us the Father. Jesus was a man filled with compassion. He wept when His friend Lazarus died, even knowing that he would be raised. The pain of Lazarus’ sisters brought tears to His eyes. He wept over Jerusalem. He had compassion on the multitudes and made sure that they had food, creating a miracle feast out of a few scraps of food.

The best proof of God’s care for us is the fact that He made a way to redeem us from our sins. He sent His only son, who offered up Himself, to die for us. He paid our penalty. One we could never repay. Then He rose again and ascended to Heaven so that the Father could send us His Holy Spirit. He refused to leave us comfortless. Why would we need any further proof than that?

Feeling like no one cares?
He does. More than you could ever comprehend.

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Book Reivew for “Maebown (Weald Fae Journals #4)- Fantasy/Fiction

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Loved it. Weald Fae Journals are all about modern day “fairies” (they prefer to be called Fae) and their interaction with humans. Specifically the O’Shea family. The final book! It was great. Much more battles and strategy, so if that isn’t your thing you may think it is a little boring in places. I actually like that stuff. The characters have held their own through the whole series. I still love the main character. A strong young woman, less that perfect, with a fierce loyalty to friends and family. I give it 5 stars. Great fantasy writing. Jr. High and up. No sexual content, mild swearing. I think there might have been a bit more of that in this last book.

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Encourage Yourself

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Ever had one of those spells where everything seems to be against you? Things just can’t seem to go right? God seems far way, your flesh is strong and your spirit is weak? Maybe you feel like every demon in hell is on your case?

We all have. Thankfully some only last hours. Regretfully, we can get stuck there if we don’t do something about it. We can’t control every circumstance in our lives, but we can control how we think and act. We can control what comes out of our mouth and what goes into our hearts.

David went through some stuff. Read the Psalms or I and II Samuel. What did David do when things looked bad? He gave God the praise and recognition He deserved. He chose not to be cast down.
Psalm 42:5 (NIV), “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

He also encouraged himself in the Lord. Notice he didn’t wait around for someone else to do this. Encouragement from others is so beneficial. It can change a bad day into a good one. However, we have to be able to remind ourselves of where our refuge is. Of who our Salvation comes from.

Psalm 27:1-4 (NIV), “Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

David remembered that the Lord was his light and his salvation. God had proven himself with the lion, the bear, and with Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, may be trying to kill him, but he was going to trust in the Lord. How many times do we make “mountains out of molehills?” David said even if an army arrived, even if war was at his doorstep, he would be confident in God.

Verses 5-14 (AMP) read, “For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. Hide not Your face from me; turn not Your servant away in anger, You Who have been my help! Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation! Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]. Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me]. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me; they breathe out cruelty and violence. [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”
Be encouraged!

For additional reading: Psalms 31, 34, 54, 91

Lover of My Soul
Lover of my soul,
what mortal man can compare to thee?
Thou who has shed
thy life’s blood for me.
Leave not my side,
nor hide thy face from me.
Stay, evermore,
by my side for eternity.
Take this corruptible flesh,
and clothe me in immortality.
Oh, lover of my soul,
What mortal man can compare to thee?
Copy write: Jodi Woody

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By Many Or By Few

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I Samuel 14:6 (NIV), “Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

I Samuel 14:20-23 (NIV), “Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.”

It doesn’t take a great army to destroy the enemy. It does take a great God and a willing heart.
Jonathan, King Saul’s son, took it into his heart to allow God to use him, and when he told his armor bearer, the young man was willing to follow. When they did, God came through in a miraculous way. There was so much confusion in the enemy camp, that even to this day, the word “Michmash” still means utter confusion and chaos. By the time Saul showed up God had already thrown the enemy into disarray.

What happens when a few willing souls step out in faith? Others follow. They come out of the enemy’s camp and fight on the side of good. They come out of hiding, out of the dark woods. They lift their heads up out of despair and have hope. They join the battle.

Never despise small beginnings. God uses the small things and the foolish things. He uses us! That’s how He gets the glory. Nobody in their right mind would ever think that we could do it. It has to be God. It doesn’t matter what those around us are doing. Saul was a mess. He was in direct disobedience with God. He spoke curses over his troops, forbidding them even to eat. Yet, Jonathan stood up for what was right and just. No wonder he later backed David, and the two young men became fast friends. Jonathan knew in his heart that God would save by many or by few.

Never feel alone! So maybe you don’t have an armor bearer, then be one for someone else. Say to that man or woman of God, “do what seems right to you, I am with you.” Follow those who follow Christ. Be a Jonathan, or be an armor bearer. We may not know that armor bearers name, but he has been remembered all of these years. God made sure he would be written into the scriptures for our example.

We have work to do, and a battle to fight. The victory is ours, the outcome is sure. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Psalm 3:3 (NAS), But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Our battle cry is “LOVE.”
Will you join us?

Jesus, You are my Mighty Warrior King. You go before me and make a way where there is no way. You set the enemy in confusion on my behalf, yet You give Your soldiers perfect peace!

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Just Do It!

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I Samuel 10:6-7 (NIV), “The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.”

Samuel tells Saul all of this after anointing him as the first King of Israel. Good advice. The Spirit of the Lord has come powerfully into us, for those of us who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. How much more should we “do whatever our hands find to do?” God is with us. He has given us His power. What can stop us?

Colossians 3:23 (NLT), “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

Ephesians 6:7-8 (NAS), “With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it. If you are walking through your Church, or work, parking lot and there is garbage on the ground, pick it up. If you see that the garbage needs emptying, take it out. If you are entering the grocery store and there are others behind you, hold the door. Whatever your hand finds to do, not evil, not hurtful, harmful things, but helpful, beneficial things, do them. Notice that we are doing those things for the Lord. So maybe you haven’t been doing those things, especially at work, thinking that it wasn’t part of your job description. Do it anyway. Maybe you stopped doing those things because you never got a “thank you” or any recognition. God noticed.

That paycheck isn’t a gift from your boss, you earned it. However, it is a gift from God, the check, the job, the energy and wisdom to do the work. Those are all gifts. Be thankful, and show your appreciation by working hard. Be a good example. Show the world the work ethic of God. He doesn’t do shoddy work, He doesn’t “kill time” waiting for the whistle. He doesn’t have to be reminded to do His task. He isn’t late, He always shows up, and He keeps a good attitude. We are His kids, shouldn’t we behave like our Father.

Matthew 5:13-16 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English), “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will it be salted? It is good for nothing except to be thrown outside and to be trodden upon by people. You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that has been built upon a mountain. And they do not light a lamp and set it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all those who are in the house. Thus your light will shine before the children of men that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”