April 29, 2026

He Has Made Me Glad

November 3, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad

Songwriter:  Gwen R. Shaw / Performed on iWorship volume A

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How many of y’all have seen one of the TRANSFORMER movies?  Often I feel like Bumblebee (he is the one that communicates in sound bites).  God drops little “sound bites” into my thoughts.  (Though, sometimes I’m a little slow to catch on.)  While reading this morning, He popped this song into my head.

As I was thinking about this song, I realized that many times when we wake up in the morning, we don’t feel like we have a reason to be glad.  We are still consumed by yesterday’s trials or focusing on the problems the new day might bring.  But Psalm 118:24 (NASB) says

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

And Psalm 145:2 (AMP) states

Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You];
yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.

We may not think, or feel like, we have cause to be glad.  Yet Scripture tells us otherwise.  His Word gives us these reasons:

  • Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning
    Lamentations 3:23 NLT
  • Each day proclaims the good news that He saves
    1 Chronicles 16:23b NLT/ Psalm 96:2
  • But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me,
    Psalm 42:8a NLT
  • Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day-by-day
    Psalm 68:19a AMP
  • Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble
    Isaiah 33:2b HCSB
  • At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice
    Psalm 5:3a HCSB
  • Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful [unfailing] love
    Psalm 90:14a HCSB

His mercies are new each morning and His love is unfailing.  He hears us, bears our burdens, carries us. He is our Strength and our Salvation.  What more could we ask for?  Just one of those should be more than enough to make us glad and cause us to rejoice.  It is when we fix our eyes on this world we forget why He has made us glad. Psalm 143:8a (AMP) offers another reason to be glad:

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Today, as we recognize His faithfulness and place our complete trust in Him, let’s meditate on His goodness and…
♪ ♬ ♪ enter His gates with thanksgiving in [our] heart ♪ ♬ ♪  enter His courts with praise!  ♪ ♬ ♪

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The Humble

November 2, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
Psalm 25:9 AMP

As I read this passage, my eye kept returning to the word humble.  Being humble is something I have struggled with.  Not necessarily that I think I am better than anyone, but that I know what is best for them or the best way to handle a situation.

The world’s view of humble and the Biblical view of humble are vastly different.  The world tends to view humility as a weakness, being a wimp. The biblical Greek translation of humble is “a lowliness of mind.”  That doesn’t mean putting yourself down or talking bad about yourself.  As the Pulpit Commentary defines it, being humble means you are “submissive, meek, contrite, teachable.”

Humility is an absence of self. It is a heart attitude…not an act we put on.  A humble person willingly submits themselves to God.  Humility is giving up our desires for the good of another—a willingness to step aside so another can shine.  Being humble means giving up my right to be right in order to do what is right.  It takes a strong person to put oneself aside.

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves,
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic,
should love believers, and be compassionate and humble…
1 Peter 3:8 HCSB

But, why should we be humble?  1 Peter 5:5 (AMP) offers the best reason I can think of:

Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.

I would much rather bask in God’s grace than have God oppose me; wouldn’t you? Psalm 25:9 states that if we are willing to be humble, God Himself will teach us His ways.  I couldn’t ask for a better teacher!  Plus there are so many benefits to being humble:

  • If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
    2 Chronicles 7:14 HCSB
  • I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at My word.
    Isaiah 66:2 HCSB
  • Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully
    Psalm 10:17
  • The humble will eat and be satisfied.
    Psalm 22:26a HCSB
  • But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
    Psalm 37:11 NASB
  • The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
    Psalm 69:32a NLT
  • …a humble spirit will obtain honor.
    Proverbs 29:23b NASB
  • Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
    James 4:10 NASB

The world may try to convince us humility is a weakness, but all it offers in return is self-satisfaction.  It cannot offer anything that compares to what God offers the humble.  And there is not one of these benefits I am willing to give up.

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Father God, we thank You for Your grace.  We thank You for the blessings You are waiting to bestow upon us if we are willing to humbly submit ourselves to You.  What the world has to offer pales in comparison.  Gently remind us when our attitude shifts away from humility.  Continue to help us as we struggle to become humble and teach us Your ways.  In Your Holy name I pray, Amen – It is so!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Breakfast

November 1, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Hold the milk, put back the sugar
They are powerless to console
We’ve gathered here to sprinkle ashes
From our late friend’s cereal bowl
Breakfast Clubbers, say the motto
That he taught us to repeat:
“You will lose it in your gym class
If you wait ’til noon to eat”

Back when the Chess Club said our eggs were soft
Every Monday he’d say grace and hold our juice aloft
Oh, none of us knew his checkout time would come so soon
But before his brain stopped waving, he composed this tune

When the toast is burned
And all the milk has turned
And Captain Crunch is waving farewell
When the big one finds you
May this song remind you
That they don’t serve breakfast in hell

Breakfast clubbers, drop the hankies
Though to some our friend was odd
That day he bought those pine pajamas
His check was good with God

Those here without the Lord
How do you cope
For this morning we don’t mourn
Like those who have no hope

Oh, rise up, Fruit Loop lovers
Sing out sweet & low
With spoons held high
We bid our brother, “Cheerio!”

 Singer/Songwriters: Peter Furler, Steve Taylor along with the NewsBoys

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Breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day. The meal is one of many starting points for our days. Some of us eat eggs, bacon, toast, or whatever. Others eat cereal or pop tarts. It just depends on what is in the pantry and different tastes. For some people, it is their favorite meal of the day. Yet, it is not the most important thing on earth.

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked,
“Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 25:26

Men make meals. Men make things. We, as humans, come together to make wonderful things happen. Yet, we cannot do these things without God. Yet, men cannot save themselves from death. They can join groups of men, but they cannot do what God and His Son and His angels can do.

In the song, Breakfast by the Newsboys, the Breakfast Club (a group of eaters) has lost one of its members. The song illustrates that they are saying goodbye to this person, but that they know that they will see that person again because when they died they were children of God. Using the examples of the breakfast items, the song reminds us that the good things we experience here on earth will not be in hell—the choice we make when we refuse God.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have nothing to worry about. We don’t have to worry about where we are going to spend eternity. Jesus gave His life for us so we may enjoy eternity in His glory and not in the fires of hell. We get to live with Jesus in Paradise.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for being able to choose to accept You and spend eternity with You. We know where we will be spending eternity—in Your glory. Your love has saved us, and we don’t have to worry about where we will spend eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Hide Them In Your Heart

October 31, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Jesus answered,”It is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Matthew 4:4

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been (or soon will be) in a confrontation with the enemy.  At times it can seem like the confrontation will never end.  Because you are His—the Lord’s—there is a target on your back and the only way to go into  combat against the enemy is with the Word of God.

In Ephesians 6:17, the Bible is called the “sword of the spirit.”  And since we don’t live in medieval times, we are highly unlikely to have a sword at our disposal.  And though His Word IS our sword, sometimes we don’t have a Bible with us either.  However, if we memorize it…no one can take it from us.

Remember Jesus in the desert alone for forty days and nights…?  He was tired and hungry and vulnerable.  The enemy came at Him on all sides.  Jesus didn’t have a Bible with Him, did He?  Psalms 119:11 says,”I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

After you have memorized Scripture, you must learn how to apply it.  Jesus answered the enemy with specific Scripture—actually He quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 the verse that we started off with today.  The enemy was tempting Jesus while HE was fasting and praying.  He tried to tempt Him with bread.  Jesus had an answer.  You, too, will have to respond to the enemy. He is the father of lies and he will have many for you.  You will need Scriptures that pertain to whatever he is throwing your way, and you must stand boldly on God’s  Word.  Don’t just let it collect dust on your coffee table or sit your nightstand by your bed.  Open it and read it!  It is one way that He speaks to us.

And if the enemy isn’t backing off, don’t give up!  If he wasn’t afraid of Jesus the first time, he won’t be afraid of you at first.  But if you’re persistent, and you draw your sword, then you can rebuke him in Jesus’ name.  He will flee, I am certain. Remember, there are seasons of spiritual warfare and there is always victory in Jesus.

I remember the story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian who hid Jews during the Holocaust.  While she was growing up, she, her sister and her father would learn Scriptures.  When she and her family were taken to the concentration camp, she had His words to lean on and remember.  She would say them out loud some days, just to make it through. She would pray Scripture to God and wait on Him to deliver her, and He did.

You have a story, too!  A story of hope and redemption and grace.  What does it look like?  I encourage you to journal today.  Write about the things you have gone through…and what or Who got you through.  And find some verses that you can rely on the next time you feel the attack of the enemy!

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
Psalm 62:5

Let us pray: Dear Lord, You are all-powerful and all-knowing. Your love is unshakable and Your patience is never ending. You know our every thought and You know what we are going to do next. You save us from ourselves. We thank You for all that You do in our lives. You go before us and make our paths straight. Thank You for giving us Your Word. It is sharper than a two-edged sword and it never comes back void.  Lord, help us to desire to learn Scripture and to read it daily so that we know what You have said to us. We are so blessed by Your words.  And for the times that You speak to us alone. And when the time may come that we don’t have the luxury of having the Bible with us, we will have Your Word memorized and hidden in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Beef Stroganoff

October 31, 2014 by

Beef Stroganoff GCH resizeThis recipe is one of my favorites in the “Comfort Food” category.  Beef Stroganoff is easy and filling, especially if you serve it over rice or noodles.  We just eat it straight from the bowl, paired with a salad or roasted vegetables.

Now before you think I’m crazy for using so much wine in a stew, remember that all the alcohol cooks off. You will not get tipsy from your entree, I promise!  Make sure you use a wine that you will want to drink, because this recipe leaves you enough for a glass or two with dinner.  You can use red – like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or pinot noir – or white – like pinot grigio or chardonnay.  Don’t use anything sweet, though.  Nice and dry is the secret.  And if you are really, really opposed to wine…you can use beef broth instead.

This recipe also calls for dried mushrooms.  I get big bags of dried, sliced shiitake mushrooms at the Korean supermarket.  Any Asian grocery store should carry dried mushrooms for cheap.  If you can’t find them, you can use fresh button or cremini mushrooms.  The difference will be the cooking time – you’ll need to sauté them for longer so that you can cook most of the water out of them.  Just experiment until it looks right – it’s not rocket science.

Ready for a fall stew that will warm your belly and delight your tastebuds?  Let’s go!

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 cup dried, sliced mushrooms (or use one pound fresh mushrooms, sliced)
  • 2 cups dry red or white wine
  • 1 tablespoon fresh snipped dill (or use 1/2 teaspoon dried dill)
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, but nice)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup whole milk yogurt (or use sour cream or creme fraiche)

Directions:

  1. If using dried mushrooms:  In a bowl, pour in one cup of the wine.  Microwave for about a minute so it’s hot, or at least very warm.  Add the dried mushrooms to the hot wine to rehydrate them.  Place another bowl on top so the mushrooms stay submerged in the wine.  Let steep until Step 3.
  2. In a large pot, brown the ground beef.  You don’t need to add any extra fat, since the fat will melt out of the meat.  When brown, remove beef with a slotted spoon to a bowl.  Leave the fat and juices in the pot.
  3. Add the sliced onion to the pot and sauté over medium.  If using fresh mushrooms, add them together with the onion.  If using dried mushrooms, add the mushrooms AND the wine they were soaking in when the onion starts to turn golden, about 8 minutes.
  4. When the mushrooms and onion are soft and golden, add the beef back to the pot, along with the other cup of wine, the dill, paprika, and mustard.  Cover with a lid and turn the heat to low.  Simmer for 5 minutes to combine.
  5. Turn off the heat, stir in the yogurt, and serve hot.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!

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This Week…Psalm 4:1

October 31, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Answer me when I call to You,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

How many times have you prayed a prayer similar to this one?  Many times, if you like me, call out to God in times of stress and distress!  And this week my friends who contribute to our Seeking Him devotional blog have each shared on this verse with similar thoughts.  Here is a quick reminder of some of the things that Ann, Ahmee, Cynda, Laura, and Tina have written.

Cynda wrote in her devotional entitled, Perfect Prayers, how she loved the simplicity of David’s prayer.  She reminded us of how God always looks at the heart not all the superfluous things.  And she wrote, ‘ Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be heartfelt. It needs to be uttered with passion. God honors fervent prayers by being merciful and gracious to us.”

Ann shared her heart in Prayerfulness that there have been times when she ‘…cried to my God to answer my prayers because I felt that they were not being answered…this only brought discomfort and fear in me. All the faith had gone…all I could see was unanswered prayer.”  But the Holy Spirit spoke to her saying, ‘You know what, Ann? Cast all your cares unto God and He will give you rest.”  <Simple but oh-so-necessary!>  She compelled us “I urge each one of you to be earnestly prayerful and regularly engaged in prayer.  With faith, we will have answered prayers.  All that we need is to ask God for help. Our prayers will be granted.”

Ahmee encouraged us, in Just A Reminder, to see the importance of rest—directing us to Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 11:28-30.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  She also wrote: “So, take your request to Him and then rest. {Do not forget about the resting part!}”

Tina focused on The Provider aspect of God’s love and care for us. “When we are in distress, we call out to God. We expect Him to answer us immediately,” Tina wrote.  And she reminded us that God is able to handle our upsetment!  In addition, she gave us the example “…of Abraham who left his father, took his wife and nephew, and moved away from all that he knew. Just because God called to him. But Abraham received a promise. A promise to become a father of many.”  And we know how abundantly and miraculously God has provided for what He promised Abraham!

In her blog, Answering The Caller ID, Laura took the part of the verse that says ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness…” and brought it all back to a call we need to heed: “…Here is one call that we are supposed to answer no matter what.  The caller ID is our heart being tugged at by Jesus wanting us to accept Him as our Savior.  It is a call that should be answered every time.  By answering the call of Christ, our faith is strengthened and fortified.”  She also wrote, “When we answer Christ’s call, God hears us.  We become blessed even more.” Oh, yes we do!

My heart was encouraged day-by-day as I read and considered the words and Truth being shared by these friends of mine (and yours!).  As I prayed and studied, two Scriptures came to mind; may I share them with you?  I hope that they will encourage and comfort you…reminding you to always call out to your heavenly Father…who is always listening…He always hears and always answers!

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
Psalms 145:18-20

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 5:14-15

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Something In The Water

October 31, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

He said, I’ve been where you’ve been before
Down every hallway’s a slamming door
No way out, no one to come and save me
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave you
Then somebody said what I’m saying to you
Opened my eyes and told me truth
He said, Just a little faith and it’ll all get better
So I followed that preacher man down to the river

And now I’m changed
And now I’m stronger
There must’ve been something in the water
Oh there must’ve been something in the water

Well I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn’t think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hoping, all out of fight
Couldn’t fight back my tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, God, if You’re there come and rescue me
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood

And now I’m singing along to ‘Amazing Grace’
Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God Almighty I saw the light
Going to look ahead, no turning back,
Live everyday, give it all that I have
Trusted Someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed

 Singer/Songwriter Carrie Underwood with Chris Stefano, Brett James

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What is your testimony?  What moment in your life comes to mind where you were changed COMPLETELY…?

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Revelation 12:11 NLT

It is AMAZING what God can do with the broken pieces of your life.  I was about 22 when my life was changed completely by the love of God.  I can so relate to the desperation in this song where she says “God, if You’re there please come rescue me…”.  My life was in a million pieces and I had sunk into a pit of despair from years of poor choices.  It was then that I cried out in my desperation and God met me right where I was at and my life changed completely.

Oh, sisters, BELIEVE it!  There IS something in the water and it WILL change your life forever!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

I don’t even want to think of where my life would be today if I had not made the choice to surrender it in my desperation…. What we have been through, or are currently going through, will make us stronger.  Girls, He is more than able!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20 NLT

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Heavenly Father, I pray that in our moments of desperation that we will choose to cry out to You and surrender it all.  So that we may have a smile on our face and be singing of your AMAZING GRACE in Jesus’ name.  AMEN!

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Perfect Prayers

October 30, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Answer me when I call to You, O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me [be gracious to me] and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1 NLT

I like the simplicity of David’s prayer.  Reminds me of a Max Lucado devotional entitled, Prayer’s Aren’t Graded:

“Jesus downplayed the importance of words in prayers. We tend to do the opposite. The more words the better! We emphasize the appropriate prayer language, the latest prayer trend, the holiest prayer terminology. Against all this emphasis on syllables and rituals, Jesus says in Matthew 6:7: ‘Don’t ramble like heathens who talk a lot.’  There’s no panel of angelic judges with numbered cards.”

I love the line “There’s no panel of angelic judges with numbered cards.” Sometimes we pray like we think there is. God doesn’t count our words or measure our syntax. He doesn’t edit our grammar. God looks at our heart.  As the Scriptures tell us:

Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible,
but the Lord sees the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7b (HCSB)

For You look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.
Psalm 7:9b (NLT)

In this verse David used only a few words, but he prayed with passion.  David’s prayer came from deep within his heart.  Take a look at James 5:16b (AMP):

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man
makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

It doesn’t say the ‘perfect’ prayer.  It doesn’t say the prayer of 100 words or more.  It says the “earnest (heartfelt, continued)” prayer.  God already knows what is on your heart.  He just wants you to share it with Him.  It doesn’t really matter how you share it, as long as you do share it with Him.  Even if you can’t put it into words or express it verbally.  Romans 8:26 (AMP) states:

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness;
for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf
with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  It just needs to be heartfelt.  It needs to be uttered with passion.  Even if it is only to call His name – Jesus!  God honors fervent prayers by being merciful and gracious to us.

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Holy Father, I am so thankful my prayers do not have to be perfect to be heard. You know what is in my heart and You long for me to share it with You.  Thank You for the intimacy prayer brings.  Thank You for the mercy and grace you extend to me, undeserving as I am.  May I lift up my requests to You with heartfelt passion.  In Your Holy name I pray, Amen – It Is So!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fear Not, My Child

October 30, 2014 by

In myself I’ve failed the Lord
Then was afraid to try once more
That fire in my soul had fled
That’s when Jesus came and said

My spirit gives the strength you need
To raise you up and to succeed
And for vision in the night
To you, I’ll give these words of light

Fear not, my child
I’m with you always
I feel every pain
And every tear I see

Fear not, my child
I’m with you always
I know how to care
For what belongs to me

He said, My child, don’t look behind
Discouragement is all you’ll find
Don’t watch the waves that roll the sea
But just focus your eyes on Me

And I will make you strong and then
Your shattered courage I will mend
And if you fall and should get hurt
Remember these eternal words

Singer / Songwriter Carman Licciardello with Kim Boyce
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There are more than 100 records in the Bible where God spoke these words of comfort and encouragement—“Do not fear…” and “Fear not….” A clear statement of His heart towards His people, wouldn’t you say? But being fearful (afraid, worried, scared) is a temptation that almost everyone falls into at one time or another. For some of us, clinging to God’s promises that He will always be with us and that He will take care of us, takes determined effort. Me…I fall into this category. Anyone else?

But we DO have God’s promises…so knowing the Truth, and acting on it, is critical to dealing with our fears and worries. And we DO know where to find the Truth—in the Bible. Below are just a very few…oh, there are SO many…Scriptures to hold in our minds and our hearts. Perhaps you could write them out on index cards and keep them where you can find them easily—in your Bible, or on your desk, perhaps tacked up where you can see them easily. The point is to be reminded and to be encouraged and to ‘fear not.’

Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.
Deuteronomy 13:4

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.
Psalm 34:7

So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:31

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27

This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Psalm 56:3

In God, whose Word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:4

He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
Psalms 91:4-8

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
Psalm 112:7

David, who God called ‘a man after My own heart,’ dealt with much temptation to fear throughout his life. But David was sure that his LORD was always with him, even when he was (actually) alone. Listen to his confession of trust and confidence in his Lord:

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread?
The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident.
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me;
in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed
that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord;
be brave and of good courage
and let your heart be stout and enduring.
Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
Excerpts from Psalm 27

May we each also confess that ‘the Lord IS my Light and my Salvation…the Refuge and Stronghold of my life’.  May we also be assured that ‘my heart shall NOT fear…and in this will I be confident’.  May we ‘offer sacrifices and shouting of joy…and sing praises to the Lord’.  I pray for each of you that you, too, will wait and hope for and expect the Lord; that you will be brave and of good courage…and that your heart will be enduring.  Yes, may we wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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October 29, 2014 by

Psalm 4:1
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

When we are in distress, we call out to God.  We expect Him to answer us immediately.  As we walk through the pain and the anguish, we sometimes rant and rage at Him.  And that is okay. He is a big God. He can take whatever we can throw at Him.  As long as we are respectful, we can become angry.

And sometimes we have to become like children and trust God will answer our prayers.  When we were children, most of us did not have to worry about where our food was coming from, we did not have to worry about a place to sleep, because it was there.  Our parents provided everything we needed.  Not what we wanted…but what we needed.  That is what they are supposed to do.  That is what our heavenly Father does for us as well.

In the Bible it tells us of fathers who loved their sons.  It tells us those who have blindly trusted God.  It tells us of those who walked in faith what God would have them to do.  Scripture tells us of Abraham who left his father, took his wife and nephew, and moved away from all that he knew.  Just because God called to him.  But Abraham received a promise.  A promise to become a father of many.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people
and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Genesis 12:1-3

God, through Jesus His son, offers us a promise.  When we accept Jesus into our heart, and make Jesus Lord of our life, we have eternity.  We may not have an easy life, but a life of great reward, a life rich with God’s blessings.  This past month, I was given a task of putting together a program for our Hallelujah Hoedown at our church. It was a stretch for me, but I knew God had given me this opportunity to help me grow in my ability to lead and for me to become accountable.  I don’t have issues with delegating.  Nor do I have an issue with calling on those whom I know can do a job.  I just have to learn to lean on God more for everything…and I did.   He did not let me (or those who watched our performance this weekend) down.  We all had a wonderful time, performing and worshipping God and letting the little ones worship with us.  I think the adults had just a much fun as the children did!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

My prayer is for everyone to know Christ as Someone we can go to for our everyday needs and concerns.  God wants us to seek Him for our every need before we make little AND big decisions.  He wants us to do a heart check, to assure our thoughts align with His Word.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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