Take Heart--God Has Your Back!

By Lene Madsen

Are you feeling like you’re lost in a torture chamber and can’t find a way out? Have you or your spouse lost a job? Are you struggling with a sudden onslaught of new issues demanding your attention? Are you worrying about your kids and how they are handling life?

In our world of texting, cell phones, & instant gratification we often lose heart at thoughts of the long road ahead as we face the myriad challenges in life. It’s easy to get tangled and lost in the juggling of appointments, doctors, medicines, treatments, work, church, school, children, parents, and all the other things that fly at us in today’s world.

Even as Christians we all go through times when it’s hard to tell up from down and we can’t figure out what God is doing. But, praise God, as His children we are never without hope. He holds our hand. (Is. 41:13) Allow yourself to experience His strength, His wisdom, and His unconditional love for you. Jesus promised us He would never leave us alone. (Heb. 13:5)

Remember, He never promised to keep us out of hard places, but He did promise to walk with us every step, guiding us all the way. (Ps. 48:14) He leads us step by step—not mile by mile (Ps. 37:23).  Even when things seem so dark we can’t see the end of our nose, much less a step in front of us, God is there leading the way. (Is 42:16)

“All The Way My Savior Leads Me” is a beautiful old hymn that speaks straight to how the Lord guides our steps through life’s maze. It was written by Fanny J. Crosby in the 1870’s. Ms. Crosby was a prolific poet/song writer that had been blinded as an infant by a wrong medical treatment.

She wrote this hymn spontaneously after God magnificently answered her prayer concerning a dire, right now need with no apparent hope for relief. Who else knows best the importance of having your steps guided than a blind person? I pray you will let Ms. Crosby’s words encourage your heart today.

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME

Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915

All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread,

gives me grace for ev’ry trial, feeds me with the living bread.

Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be,

gushing from the Rock before me, lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me; Oh, the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,

this my song through endless ages:  Jesus led me all the way.

* * *

Text

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Ps 37:23).

“For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end” (Ps 48:14).

See also

Pr 16:9;  Jer 29:11; Jn 10:3-5; Jn 10:3; Rom 8:28; Phil 4:6-8

Prayer

Father, forgive me for trying to stumble through on my own again. Thank you that I can always trust You to guide my steps and carry my burdens. In Jesus’ name I cast all my care on You and do not worry about it anymore. I know You have a beautiful plan for my life. Thank You, Lord, that as I lean on and follow You I can trust that You are working this all out for my good. As I release all my worries and burdens to You I receive Your joy and let Your peace rule in my heart. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  (Psalm 37:23; Psalm 48:14; Philippians 4:6; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:6-8)

Radiant Flower

Guest Post

By Michelle McCulloch

I watched as the Creator took the man and placed him within such a beautiful garden, Eden. As He set him there, God spoke to this man, charging him with the responsibility to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15). But what did that mean? To tend to it? To keep it? What was God's plan with this garden? What was to become of this place?

To me, this place was more than just a garden, this was my home. Across the way, the green field, beside me, the overarching trees, beneath me, the damp soil. This garden is the place I was designed to be. I am a flower. He is a man. I am a flower. But both placed within this garden with a purpose. As I watched this man work, his purpose there-in became more evident to me. I watched as he called all the animals to himself and named them. His presence influenced his surroundings. Now, each received a name. I began to wonder what my purpose was within a garden. I began to wonder if I was influencing my surroundings.

One day, no different than the rest, as I was personally tending for and caring for my own environment, by opening up to the sun rays, in-taking the moisture from the soil, and so on, this man walked beside me in conversation with the Creator. I heard the Lord speak of purpose and plan...He then pointed to me as He said, "Radiance. Do you not know, dear Adam, that you were created to bring glory to the Radiant One? Do you not yet understand creation of mine, that I have designed you in My image that you may radiate who I am to the world? This flower here, is titled what? You should know."

Adam responded, "It is a rancunculus flower."

"Very good," the Creator's gentle but powerful voice. "You well know the name, but do you know the meaning? These flowers mean "radiant charm." When I created them, this truth was not far from My mind, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed" (Psalm 34:4-5). This idea of being captured by fears may seem distant to you newly created being, but I see further. I see the day these words will be penned. But the point of this being shared, is that men will look to me and find radiance. When mankind looks to me, he is looking to the One he has been created to reflect. Why, do you wonder, do I take the time to be with you? That you may know me, be familiar with me, that you may radiate my character to others."

At such a word, Adam pulled me from my root, and quickly took me in hand, to Eve, his wife.

"I understand now, the purpose of our being Eve! We have been created to reflect His radiance. To reflect the radiance of GOD! Created in His image with purpose. Created exactly how we are with purpose. "Created with eyes to look to Him, then to reflect Him to others with purpose." Adam's voice, nearly popping with zeal and excitement.

As Adam handed me over to Eve, he said, "This flower means radiant. This is what we are called to do. Radiate the Creator through creation. We are His creation, and through these bodily frames, we are to radiate Him. Do you think this flower had any idea as to why certain features of his creation were so? Or why his location was so ordained? No! But by the flower being faithful to bloom where it was planted, by embracing and tending its surrounding, it has blossomed into a beautiful demonstration, used by God to declare God's purpose for man, to RADIATE HIMSELF. Eve, let us be as this flower."

A moment later, after the man and his wife had left, I was being held in the arms of the Creator. His gentleness, the air I breathed in. His love, felt before any touch. He looked at me with pleasure and said, "I know the plans I have for you. I knew why I had you to be planted where you were, I knew you would be plucked from your home this day, and I knew that because of the plucking you will not live forever in this garden. The plucking is what enabled you to be used as a visual messenger to Adam and Eve of their purpose in this life, but it has also begun the count down on your living. You are now dying. Dying each moment. But your death is working life in others. You did well, dear flower, you were faithful to your all, and you have been used faithfully. Life comes from dying."

With such a line, I watched His eyes drift forward, as if He was picturing something in the distant future. He continued, "One day, yes, One day, mankind will too learn that lesson, and by My Spirit, those who desire to be used in that time, must live it out, that dying to self brings life in the Spirit. But those are lessons for a different day. Today, you were used, and tomorrow you will cease, but in eternity's eyes, you have radiated God's purpose for mankind. Well done good and faithful flower. Enter into the true radiance of eternity."

 From the other side of death, I penned this story, to encourage the saint who today feels dim. You are radiant. Within you dwells the Spirit of God. You have been commissioned with a call to blossom where you were planted, to look to Him, and then to radiate His love to others. Are you being faithful with the area of influence you have been given? Are you appreciating the body that enables you to be His radiance? Are you looking to Your God with your own eyes, so others may see His reflection when they look at you? Silence what you doubt, or what you fear, He has delivered you from those things, you were created in His image for His purpose, look to Him and allow His radiance to shine through you in all you set your hands to do.
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Michelle McCulloch
 On the Missions Field in Uganda, East Africa
 mcculloch.michelle5@gmail.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITER

Are You God Sufficient?

Guest Post

By Michaelle Bragassa-Holman

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you literally have no idea what to do? Maybe, your marriage is on the rocks, or a family member is gravely ill or dying? Have you found yourself in a situation with your family relating to that illness or impending death? Is the relationship you have with your children strained, and children are you struggling in the relationship with your parents? Even if at this point in your life you are not facing adversity, you can be assured that it will happen at some point. That's right ladies and gentlemen, even Christians have adversity.

Let's be realistic, most of the time when an adversity hits us, were not prepared. The first thing we do is try to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, this usually results in more tension and strife in our lives. Why? Because we must realize that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 2 Corinthians 3:5. In order for us to address the adversity in our lives, we must first realize that we are unable to change anything on our own. The reality is that we need to let go, and let God.

God knew that each of us would face family crisis at some point in our lives. He also is aware of our human nature, which is to prove we are right and the 'offender,' is wrong. We become stubborn and unyielding, willing to sacrifice the tender moments in life, because we are hurt, angry or both. In order for us to find the peace we desire in life, we must stop striving to be self-sufficient, and start striving to become God-sufficient. Hand the adversity over to God, and allow him to direct your footsteps. When we learn to do this fully, we find that God always knows the perfect path.

The Bible makes it clear that the enemy is Satan, it is not your mother, father, sister, brother, child, husband, wife, or any other mortal man. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

Satan is a master deceiver! His goal is to divide and conquer the enemy at any and all costs. He will convince you that your right, and therefore it's the other person's fault that your home and family is being destroyed. He claims victory each time he is able to infiltrate and then conquer your family unit. Satan knows that when your guard is down, and your heart is splintered, he has the perfect opportunity to jab through to your soul.

It's vital during all aspects of our lives, we serve and obey God diligently, no matter what mountain is ahead of you. God will work with a living vessel, but when you close your heart, he has no place to communicate and move on you and your family's behalf.

That's why I encourage you to make the decision to obey and serve God no matter what you might face. When you do, you give God what He wants: someone in the home with whom He can come into agreement. But if you remain hostile and stubborn and you refuse to budge, God has no channel through which He can work. He has no vessel through which He can move to impact your family. Remember, stop striving to be self-sufficient, and start striving to become God-sufficient

Our lives our made up of so much in this world today, that we often forget to take the time to do the things we love. My entire life has been filled with both the love I have for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and writing.
 
http://www.livingwaterfromthewell.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITER