Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

I sure needed this beautiful Scripture and uplifting song this week!  I don’t know about you, but I was beside myself at how many people around me were going through life’s changing events!  I am going to try to briefly share about those around me who need to have the supernatural direction and healing of the Holy Spirit.

For one thing, my husband and I are trying to get back on our feet from his hospital stay.  This has caused a setback not only in his health, but also in getting paid for about 4 weeks.  It has made us really sit down together and try to fine-tune our budget.

Not only have we as a couple had to seek the Lord and each other as to what to do, but my parents and sister have experienced situations that are driving them to the Lord.  My parents are encountering a situation where my mom has fallen a couple of times within the last three weeks. They are asking God if it is time for them to get a place without stairs.  In my sister’s case, she and her husband are having to move to a hotel because of unreasonable rent increases.  On top of this, her husband is in need of much assistance due to having a history of strokes.

The last person I will bring up is the elder Alan and I have been meeting with on Zoom, Tuesday evenings.  He and his wife are still grieving over the loss of their daughter.  While they are going through this loss, they are wondering if it is the right time to sell their place and relocate.  While we and all of you might be asking ourselves what is going on, it is not the time to believe we are going to fall apart.  It is the time to truly run to God and believe that He holds our breakthrough in His hands!  God bless you this week as you believe in His rescue!

On the subject of strokes, the last month has been one of our pastor and parents’ assistant pastor going through them.  Our prayers are that our pastor will have successful PT and OT treatment here in the future, and that God will reveal to him and his wife what should be done about pastoring. In the case of my parents’ assistant pastor, it is especially difficult because he is fairly young and has younger children.

Psalm 37:23-24

fhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037%3A23-24&version=NIV

In the Psalms, David made a point of acknowledging Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Psalm 37:23-24, portrays Christ as steadying us as we cherish His ways. The Father makes sure His daughters and sons don’t fall along life’s difficult paths. Another time that the Lord is brought up as being near is Psalm 23:4. The sheep have the assurance that they will be directed and guarded every step, even in the darkness of death. Death is just a valley we will cross through with the Savior.

Life is not meant to be handled by oneself.  We are to go through it holding the Father’s hand. We should spend our efforts praising Him for who He is, and for getting us through every obstacle in the past.  I noticed that in Jon Reddick’s song, “Holding On,” it shows him building a little stone altar.

That reminded me of what God wanted the Children of Israel to do. Joshua 4:9 tells of the time Joshua set up a pillar of twelve stones at the Jordan. The exact place that the priests had been, as they had carried the Ark of the Covenant to dry land. The instructions of God given to Moses were in the Ark. Respect and worship are due His name! He wants us to recall the times Christ has carried us through.

This week, I wanted to start by praising God for providing for our June rent! Let us spend time respecting what God has shown us to do through His Word and through the people of God. We have plenty of reasons to worship Him, as represented in 2 Chronicles 20:20-21. Jehoshaphat set up worshippers before them as they went into battle. It is setting down our self pride, and is in exhalting His holy name. Amen! I wanted to close by inviting you to share those times Jesus has provided, in the comment section below. God bless us as we hold onto His hand!