James 1:2-4 NIV – Trials and Temptations – Consider it – Bible Gateway https://share.google/BtEuSBP3IDEFnTpRH

James 1:2-4 is an encouragement when going through trials; it gives the purpose of hard times, and it shows that it doesn’t have to short circuit what God has ultimately planned. I also wanted to comment on Kari Jobe’s song, “We Are.” I then wanted to conclude this blog by giving you a comment on the familiar hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

To start off with, we need to constantly ask the Holy Spirit to change our thinking about trials; they actually can be a tool of the Father to increase our perserverance and allows for the completion of God’s plan in our lives. Our natural instinct is to desire comfort and ease. The trials end up developing our spiritual muscles. When we are on the same path as Christ’s, we will be victorious and please the Maker.

The Father is a good God, and His desire is for us to be utilized as strong witnesses of His glory.  We are to be cities on a hill as light to this dark world, Matthew 5:14. That is the message of Kari Jobe’s, “We Are.” We are God’s children who are not in the dark. Why spend our lives flailing around as if we are without hope? What is glorious is that the story does not end in doom and gloom!

That beautiful realization made me think about God being our friend. The hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” encourages that Jesus is a fiend. It reminds us that we end up giving up peace when we don’t take our trials to God. He understands us and is aware that we are weak, Psalm 103:14. Let us allow Him the chance to mold us into the men and women He wants to, Isaiah 45:9! 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV – “But blessed is the one who trusts in – Bible Gateway https://share.google/0RRu2gjZNpnMSRCWz

When I read Jeremiah 17:7-8, it reminded me of Psalm 1… they both describe the outcome of those who heed God and His Word. God gives the proper sustenance for us, so we are never in need. We will be able to bear fruit and life. 

I am sure that everyone has had, or they are going to have, times where it seems like they are going down.  With Christ, though, we are able to trust that we are going to be kept and saved. In “Trust God/Blessed Assurance,” Elevation Worsip sings about the confidence we can exhibit knowing Jesus. I wanted to give a shout out to my parents, Michael and Elizabeth Honeycutt, who are celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary!  What a Godly example of showing trust in Him through financial and health crises!

The peace that this couple has modeled is read about in Phillipians 4:7-8. That peace is indescribable, and it should be based off of focusing on what is upright, from the Lord. My husband and I have discussed the issue of not giving Satan an upper hand… dwelling on negativity and strife only leads to strife and unrest. Lord, please remind us and the readers how important dwelling on the truth is. After all, you are the way the truth and the life- John 14:6.

As we go through this next week, I ask that you will give us the supernatural ability to only pay attention to those things you have shared with us. In doing so, we will be able to be witnesses of your peace, power, and salvation. Thank you that you use us who are broken vessels, 2 Corinthians 4:7! Amen!

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https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EPH.3.16-19.NIV

My husband wanted me, and I feel the Lord is leading, to share about God’s immeasurable love. As Ephesians 3:16-19 shares, our desire should be for faith to increase in the Lord. That faith can be guaranteed by the bountiful love Christ has for us. As we progress in this relationship, we will never experience a point where His love has gone away.

I got to thinking about the fact that if we dwell on how endless Christ’s care for us is, we will end up exhibiting love back to Him and others. This love of God can be developed by dwelling on the Word of God. David, in the Psalms, expressed his love for the Law, which shares the love God has for humanity. As you dive into Scripture, the Spirit will help reveal new aspects of His nature, His love.

The Savior’s endless love was sung about in Andrew Ripp’s song, “Love’s Got a Way.” It brought up the point that Christ is walking with us in this life, the road of sorrow. It is touching to remember how much Christ gave up to be able to dwell with humanity, to be born and to finally be resurrected from the grave. For instance, like I heard about in the sermon this morning,Luke 13,this woman had had a crippling disease for 18 years but still experienced Christ’s concern and healing. God shared his love for me by healing my childhood crossed eyes!

We all can experience the power of love working in and through our lives. This week, let us give ourselves to God and let Him share with us how to accept and exhibit His love. It is not like the things here on Earth that pass away. It is not contingent upon what we are feeling or the circumstances around us, praise God!

1 Peter 5:10 NIV – And the God of all grace, who called – Bible Gateway https://share.google/iyWvXuUaBUsdfnXAd

This morning, I had the privilege of attending a Women’s Bible Study/Breakfast.  The topic was built off of Nehemiah 1 and 2, God calling us to rebuild walls in our lives. It spoke on how Nehemiah responded to the news of the torn down walls in Judah. He first of all went to God about the issue, with prayer and fasting. King Artaxerxes, King of Persia, noticed Nehemiah was downcast and inquired what was wrong. The wine-taster explained the shape of Judah was saddening, and asked if he could go to help in rebuilding it. God gave Nehemiah an affirmation.

The affirmation from God was mentioned to those who would rebuild, and they joined in the acceptance of the job of rebuilding. They mentioned that God would make them successful. That is so important, that we get God in focus. In Nehemiah’s prayer, he reminded God of what His character was. He stated that the Lord had promised Moses that the people of Israel would be restored to the land when they repented.

In Nehemiah’s prayer, he confessed that he and the people had gone astray; he was interceding for himself and his people.  What a blessing God has given His children, that they would not be cast off if they repented (1 John 1:9)! Let us remember how faithful and merciful Christ is! This week, let us make ourselves right when the Spirit leads. We should be encouraged that our hardships and discipline will only last for a little bit, and will result in our becoming stronger.

This is the message Blessing Offo sang about, in “Brighter Days.” What an encouragement, that the bad times in our bodies and on Earth will not go on forever.  Let us seek Jesus to help rebuild our walls. Since we have Him, we will never be left torn down.  God bless as we seek His face! As always, please feel free to comment below and to leave donations!