1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV – No temptation has overtaken you except – Bible Gateway https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010%3A13&version=NIV

Praise the Lord! What a way to end the old week and get ready for the new one!  There is joy in contemplating how faithful God is.  The way to have joy is to focus on Christ and who He is and represents.  Despite His greatness, He will take the time to care for His sheep (Phillipians 4:10-13), (Isaiah 40:11-16).

Since we have a compassionate Heavenly Father, we can rest assured that He will provide for us in the future as He has in our past.  Jesus took 40 days in the wilderness to show us how we can overcome Satan and our flesh. It is in hiding God’s Word in our heart; it is taking God’s truth and quenching the Enemy’s lies.

I was talking to my sister today, and we both agreed on how we need to fill our minds with the good in the situations in life.  Alan, my husband,  and I came to the agreement that time should be spent dwelling on what is uplifting and brings us closer to God (Phillipians 4:8). I pray that this week, we make it our goal to focus on the things of God; after all,  God is good!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2046%3A4&version=NIV

Oh my goodness, God is faithful!  Even in the heartache of getting older, body wearing down and losing loved ones, there is the joy of seeing His faithfulness in the different seasons of life. I am so blessed by Isaiah 46:4, and the anointed CeCe Winans song/video.

We may feel tired and beat up by life; but, God is the one who created us and will carry us to Heaven.  My Aunt Linda encouraged me this morning by telling me to have a “Mount up With Wings Day.”

I remember hearing a sermon on Isaiah 40:31.  The sermon matched up God being with us in all the stages of life.  When a person is young and vibrant, Jesus is there giving strength to run; in old age’s frailty, He is there walking beside us and carrying us.

Tomorrow, on my 56th birthday, I need to focus on the beauty of life and what He has blessed me with.  Yes, my body doesn’t feel young anymore; but, I want to find myself looking at snapshots of my life and praising Jesus.  Cece had the right idea, and so can we!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2033%3A27&version=KJV

This morning, the Holy Spirit encouraged me to look at Deuteronomy 33:27, a promise that was given for stability.  God is going before His children to flush out our enemies.  When He says for us to advance, He is going to destroy our opposition. We can go forth in confidence because the battle is the Lord’s. We are not going to crumble or fall.

Since it is Father’s Day, I wanted to thank every wonderful Dad; you have gone before your children and families to make sure they are provided for and are safe.  All thanks go to the Heavenly Father! His love is everlasting!

Since God is the Everlasting Father, His ways never change.  He has promised protection for those that belong to Him, which includes the Land of Israel.  These days may seem precarious for them in regards to Iran, but it is not over; the Angel of the Lord’s Army is fighting for them.  Thank you, Jesus, for taking such good care of us!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012%3A9&version=NIV

What a beautiful promise is stated in 2 Corinthians 12:9, and is sung about by Katy Nichole and Big Daddy Weave!  Yes, there are many times a person will feel like a certain disaster is going to hit at any time; my father likened life to a tight rope walk.  The good news is that underneath are His arms, and He is orchestrating all happenings to benefit His children and bring Him glory (Romans 8:28)

In pondering the subject of God’s goodness by grace, I remember coming across Philippians 4:10-11.  Paul mentioned the fact that he was grateful for the concern given his well-being. The Lord had enabled him to accept whatever he was feeling or given. Yes, the key to our content is to think about and thank God for the blessings given when undeserved.

Our depression and discontent can be traced to an attitude of feeling entitled.  The truth is that God is a fair God and should not be questioned.  Each morning, we can amen what Lamentations 3:22-23 has to mention; just the fact that we are given life each day shows His grace and mercy. As humans, we need to stop and reevaluate how we view what we go through.  God is not done with our story or us, and He is with us.  May we experience the Spirit’s comfort and peace as we dwell on truth from above!

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 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.

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.

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!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NIV

The most comforting thing to know in life is that someone loves you and has gone before you; that person is Jesus, and He invites all of us to follow Him.  Once we get to know Him, we experience how much love He has for us.  When love is there, it makes fear flee (1 John 4:18). 

Since Jesus is the God of love, it helps foster an attitude of wanting to please Him.  That was what God wanted to instill in His people the Jews.  The list of commandments and rules weren’t given to be a burden or a list of things that tied them down.  God wanted to use the Jews to show how His way was the best.  When you are tuned into the Creator, you experience better emotional and physical health.  The underlying fact is that spiritual life comes from following and obeying God.

Not only were His people to be an example for the rest of the world, but God has given His creation as examples for us.  I was recently reading in a pamphlet my husband got, Hidden Healing Secrets of the Scriptures by Dan and Jill Brady, about the different seasons God has made.  In spring, it is the time of new growth.  Let us join with what we see coming to new life.  In summer, it is when everything is at its climax. Let us join with the celebration.  Fall is the time when preparations are being made for the harsher elements of winter. Let us also prepare and take count of everything that we have been blessed with.  In winter, the land is dormant and taking a rest.  That is a great reminder in life to realize that our later seasons of life should be used in resting in His peace.

This week, may we allow Him to be the Shepherd. He has promised to be our provider. Along the way, He leads us on the route of peace.  When we encounter dangers and enemies, He is there loving us and showing that nothing will separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). The Shepherd is there all the way, and He will guide His sheep safely to Heaven to be with Him forever.  Amen!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2017%3A47&version=NIV

This week, I want to share about how awesome and faithful God is.  This topic came to my heart as I traveled to work listening to KLove.  As I heard “The Battle Belongs to the Lord,” by Phil Wickham, the Spirit encouraged me to recall everything He has done in our family’s life in the last couple of weeks.

To start off, on a Wednesday morning as my husband finished his shift as a security guard, I learned my spouse got really sick and had to drive himself to the Emergency Room at Valley Medical.  After testing and investigation, it was determined that he was suffering from a bleeding ulcer.  Pretty shortly after, Alan found himself in the Operating Room to stop the bleeding.  Praise God it was successful, and the loss of blood was corrected.  The staff determined that he then was in need of a transfusion.   That completed, he ended up staying several nights. Since it called for several days in bed, Alan used the time well by calling about ways we can cut down on our bills.

The calls were fruitful!  We found out that we can save up to $200 on car insurance monthly by switching carriers. The next thing that was arranged involved the loans on our vehicles.  It turns out that we were able to get a two month extension on Alan’s car and one month on mine.  Not only were these things accomplished, but a check for $60 was found while cleaning the room. God is good!

We need to focus on the Lord’s goodness this weekend, as God has given us a Sunday meeting to minister at. My husband has had a door open for our sharing our marriage testimony and a couple of worship songs.  We are counting on the Spirit to move.  He is a God who dwells in the praises of His people!  At any rate, may God move in each one of your lives this week! If at all possible, please scroll and share a comment with all of us on how God has moved in your situations.   God bless you as you trust in Him!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?searrch=Hosea%206%3A3&version=NIV

Hosea 6:3 is an excellent reminder to give God recognition for who He is. He is the one who brings the rain in every season of our  lives.  We may have those days where we are very discouraged and  are wondering how we are going to ever go on; the important part is that we go to God with our feelings of despair, and cry out to God for assistance.  

When I heard “Flowers” by Samantha Ebert, it brought back a statement that my father  made to my husband and I. We had just moved into our apartment in Tukwila, WA , after getting remarried. There was naturally the feeling of being overwhelmed starting all over again.  The Spirit used my Father to remind us that all God expects of us is to be good stewards and let our roots grow deep. He encouraged us to bloom where we are planted. Jesus is the one to shape and water us.

This shaping and watering process is not easy; it is not up to the pot or flower to say to the potter or caretaker that they are getting up or uprooting themselves.  What their potter or caretaker is doing gives them life and completes them.  Without this process, they would not have life.  I just wanted to remind us that God hasn’t given up on us, and He will complete what He has begun. There is a purpose for shaping and watering.   Have a blessed week!

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PHP.2.12-13.NIV

     Paul was writing to the Phillipians about  continuing on with the Lord, allowing God to give us the desire to complete  His purpose in our lives.  I don’t know about you, but human nature is a hindrance in doing what is right.  It fights against what the new man knows is right (Romans 7:15-20).  It is the part of us that does not see the purpose of going through hardships and trials.  God doesn’t want us living our lives off of our abilities to understand; He just asks us to believe Him.  Like Micah Tyler shares in his song, “Different, ” the goal needs to be one of not our will but His (Luke 22:42).

     That idea of asking for God’s will really jumped out at me.  Yes, I have been guilty of wishing that my circumstances would change , and developed an ungrateful attitude.  All along God is using these happenings to change me.  I am the one that needs my heart changed.  The difficulties pinpoint whether we are looking to Jesus or not; it gives us an opportunity for our faith to grow and for us to be a testimony of God’s power.  I am so happy God is in control, and that He will not allow anything to mess up what is best for us!

     A quick ending to this devotional would be to give thanks to God for puling Alan and myself through 20 years together.  Since God has been faithful, I know I can count on Him in the future!  May we all learn to trust God more and more!  God bless!