When Enemies Get Cozy . . . We Must Be Ready

So . . . you’re going about your life, no problems or issues, and then all of the sudden BAM! You find yourself in a battle.

   Where did it come from?

   What did I do wrong?

   How did I get in the middle of THIS?

The questions continue to weave in and out of your thoughts causing you to freeze in your tracts.

   Which way do I turn?

   Where can I get help?
   Who can I trust to walk through this with me?

King Hezekiah found himself in a difficult situation. He was going about his kingly business, watching over his people, when the King of Assyria came and cozied up against his city and planned an attack. (2 Chron. 32:1-8)

What did King Hezekiah do?

• He consulted with his leaders
• He got others to help him
• He built walls and repaired towers
• He made weapons and shields
• He encouraged his people.

And we can do the same, for we can . . .

• Consult with others we trust
• Get others to pray for us
• Build our defense through prayer and reading God’s Word
• Put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6) and wear it
• Keep those around us that will encourage us

May the words King Hezekiah encourage you as they did his people many years ago. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

Next time you find the enemy camped next to you waiting to attack, (or if he’s there right now) take confidence in the words of Jesus THE king of Judah . . . 

“I will never leave you nor forsake you," Heb. 13:5.

All scriptures from English Standard Version ESV

pictures courtesy of pixabay.com

  

Do You Hear It?

Do you hear it?


Or maybe I should ask, do you not hear it? The noise, the hustle, the bustle from a busy Christmas week.




I wonder how quite it was the night of Jesus' birth after the shepherds left and the animals settled down. Talk about noise, hustle and bustle . . . there was a lot going on for awhile in the stable that was tucked away in the small town of Bethlehem.


In Luke 2:19 we read from the Amplified Bible that "Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart." What sayings? The account the shepherds gave about their visit from an angel and then the multitude of the heavenly host that praised God concerning the birth of His only Son.


She was nestled away in a stable, holding the Son of God in her arms as she felt His heart beat next to hers. While rocking Him, the words of the shepherds must have moved across her mind and she spent time weighing and pondering what they said. It was true, the baby she held was the Son of God, born to be the Savior of the world.


In the quietness of these days following Christmas may we too spend time weighing and pondering the things we have heard about the birth of Jesus. We may not be nestled away in a stable holding the Son of God in our arms, but if He lives inside of us, we too can feel the beat of His heart next to ours. For it is true, Jesus is the Son of God and He is the Savior of the World.

In These Chairs

What would we talk about, sitting in these chairs?

Would I share my heart of deep longings and dreams, or 

what's stressing me out and causing me to ravel at the seams.

Would I tell you I'm happy and content with my life, or

that I sometimes want to quit and no longer fight the good fight.

Would I giggle and laugh telling stories you already know, or

would I grumble and complain letting my negative words flow.


I don't know, but . . .

I hope I would first thank You for Your love,
the love that caused You to leave Your home far above.


I hope I would tell You I'm sorry for wasted words and deeds,
deeds that could have been used to help others be free.


I hope I would cry tears of joy and thanksgiving,
for because of You I can have a life of abundant living.


There's so much I would want to take time to ask You 
as our voices glide over the water so blue.


But most of all I think I would want to slip out of my chair,
and sit at Your feet with Your hand laying gently on my hair.


For at your feet, head resting in your lap 
is where I would rather be,
For I know after being in Your presence, it's ALL about You, 
and not about me.


What would you talk about, sitting in these chairs?


"You make known to me the path of life;
 in Your presence there is fullness of joy; . . ." (Psa. 16:11). Click to Tweet

What Does Your Day Look Like?

What does your day look like? I ask myself this question when I wake up. What do I have to do today? What will I have to face today? What do I need to get accomplished today? And the ever so popular one . . . Will I GET through today?

No matter what it is you and I have to do, or face today, we have a source in which to go to for assistance. For the Word says "God is able to BLESS you abundantly, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work." (2 Cor. 9:8 NIV).




As we venture out into our day, we need to remember what God's Word says to us:

God is able to BLESS us abundantly. Not just a little, not just to get us by, but ABUNDANTLY. And abundant means "more than enough." God is able to bless us MORE than enough today.

So that in ALL things we do or face today and at ALL times throughout the day . . . we will have ALL we need! I don't know about you, but I have many needs throughout the day:

• patience
• strength - mental and physical
• love
• faith
• wisdom
• direction
• knowledge
• and sometimes an absolute miracle!

I have to remind myself that I have ALL I need!

Last, but certainly not least, we will abound in every good work. The Holman Christian Standard Bible says "you may EXCEL in every good work."

What will we have to do or face today? I don't know but I DO know that God is able to bless us with everything we need so we can excel in all that we do.

Have a great day!








images from office microsoft.com

Spiritual Belt

I have a confession to make . . . I lose weight, then gain it back. Lose it again and gain it back again. I have a belt to prove it.

The belt has not one, but three notches that are well worn. Sometimes I come very close to throwing the belt away, but hold on to it because it's one of my favorites. When I am at my last notch I realize how close I am to losing the belt for good. When I am smaller and three notches into the belt, I smile as I remember I am not where I used to be  . . . larger.

If I had a spiritual belt, I wonder what it would look like? It think it would look the same as the belt I wear. Sometimes I am lazy, sluggish, and distracted. It is at these times I began to realize that I am getting near to losing something very special -- a close relationship with my Heavenly Father. When I am lean, focused and dedicated, I look at the last notch and realize I'm not where I used to be.

As I go into a new year I once again spend time reflecting on the past 12 months. In the physical I ask: How did I do with my weight? my eating habits? my sleep habits? my job performance? Then I move on towards the spiritual and I ask: How did I do spending time praying? reading my Bible? memorizing scripture? studying God's Word? reaching out to others? I could go on and on with both the physical and spiritual "check up."

What have I decided? This year I am pulling my belt tighter; physically -- "Only one piece of pie please. Yes, the small one will do", and spiritually -- spending quiet moments reflecting, praying, and thanking God for His love and most of all His gift to us, His Son Jesus.

What would your spiritual belt look like?

image courtesy of photobucket.com

Help!

“I will lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” (Psa. 121:1-3 NIV).

We all have times when we cry out for help. It could be we need help with our health, a relationship, finances, decisions, things that are out of our control and we need to accept, or just to get through a difficult day. I don't know about you, but when I need help I usually go to someone close to me—a family member or close friend. But I'm reminded today that this is not where my help comes from. 

Who is my helper?
The One who made heaven and earth.

How does He help me?
He will not let my foot slip.

What does He do for me?
He watches over me and does not slumber.

Take heart my friends, and remember the One who made all we see and can't see is available to help us through our most difficult trials. He loves us and watches our ever step. And He won't miss a single step we take because He never sleeps. Matter of fact, when we sleep He not only watches over us, He sings over us.  

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; . . .will rejoice over you with singing." (Zeph. 3:17 NIV).

When you cry out for help, lift your eyes and listen closely with your heart . . . you may actually hear the lullaby of love that God is singing over you.