Daniel 10:12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have come in response to them."
Daniel 10:17-18 "How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe." Again, the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong. When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."
I know many people who are going through tremendous trials in their lives. Trials that leave them much like the prophet, Daniel... their strength gone... and they can hardly breathe. As I was reading the book of Daniel, I was deeply moved by the clear example of how Daniel was never alone in his experiences... God loved Daniel and gave him strength.
In chapters 8 through 12, Daniel is highly esteemed by God and is necessarily shown such disturbing prophetic visions of days yet to come, that he is physically overcome by what he has seen. Yet Scripture tells us that Daniel is not left alone in his fear and trembling. Daniel is comforted, strengthened, encouraged, and physically lifted up and placed on his feet. God cares deeply for Daniel.
We can apply this account to our own lives today. God cares deeply for us, too. Many of us are experiencing situations in our life that are out of our control, causing us great distress. Yet in the book of Daniel, God tells us that He is with us. Strengthening us, encouraging us, lifting us up and placing us on our feet. I can just hear God telling us, as we go through the trials and storms of this life... "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." "Do not be afraid!" "Your words are heard!" I encourage you to read the amazing book of Daniel. I pray that you can feel yourself being lifted up, and set on your feet; knowing that He is with you as you are being strengthened by the power of our mighty God.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that even when we are going through trials that leave us feeling as though we can barely breath, You are always with us, giving us strength and peace. Thank You for caring for us so deeply, that You hear each of our prayers and calm our fears. I pray that we can always feel Your mighty Hand upon us as we go through the trials of this life. I praise You, LORD, that Your Word says we have the eternal promise of this strength through Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul confirms, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
God Makes Us Grow
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
God is working, right before my eyes. I am experiencing the blessing of watching our amazing God make things grow... specifically, I am watching God make His children grow. God's mighty hand is clearly at work, transforming so many lives around me. It is awesome to behold His power and love in full orchestration.
Often, we are the ones He is growing and transforming. Other times, we are His humble servants -- planting and watering... then, gratefully watching God transform and grow His people. As only He can do.
Has God used someone to plant seeds in your life? Have they been watered by someone? Is it time to grow with Him? Is God stirring your heart? Is He beginning to move in your life? I encourage you to grab hold of His mighty hand. Answer His stirring of your heart. Listen to what He is telling you. Draw close to God and let Him grow you. He wants to take you to places you never thought possible. God wants to heal you, to be your Center, and to make you soar. Oh, the things He wants to teach you in this life! God wants to grow your roots deep into His soil, so that you do not wither and fall away.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for continuing to grow me into the person you always meant me to be. I pray that You will continue to grow me, drawing me closer to You, each and every day of my life. May You use me to carefully plant seeds and gently water the hearts of the people You surround me with... and I will watch in awe as You begin to transform lives right before my eyes. Thank You for the blessing of being Your humble servant. Amen.
God is working, right before my eyes. I am experiencing the blessing of watching our amazing God make things grow... specifically, I am watching God make His children grow. God's mighty hand is clearly at work, transforming so many lives around me. It is awesome to behold His power and love in full orchestration.
Often, we are the ones He is growing and transforming. Other times, we are His humble servants -- planting and watering... then, gratefully watching God transform and grow His people. As only He can do.
Has God used someone to plant seeds in your life? Have they been watered by someone? Is it time to grow with Him? Is God stirring your heart? Is He beginning to move in your life? I encourage you to grab hold of His mighty hand. Answer His stirring of your heart. Listen to what He is telling you. Draw close to God and let Him grow you. He wants to take you to places you never thought possible. God wants to heal you, to be your Center, and to make you soar. Oh, the things He wants to teach you in this life! God wants to grow your roots deep into His soil, so that you do not wither and fall away.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for continuing to grow me into the person you always meant me to be. I pray that You will continue to grow me, drawing me closer to You, each and every day of my life. May You use me to carefully plant seeds and gently water the hearts of the people You surround me with... and I will watch in awe as You begin to transform lives right before my eyes. Thank You for the blessing of being Your humble servant. Amen.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Gift of Today
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
My husband's mom, Janet, passed away last Sunday after a courageous battle with cancer. She passed beautifully from our world into Heaven. Jesus lovingly and gently received her into His arms...
My husband, Bruce, brought home items that were in Janet's pantry when she passed. He brought home brown grocery bags filled with aluminum foil, cans of tuna, soup, vitamins, cough drops, a loaf of bread, crackers, little individually wrapped crumb cakes...
As I carefully helped my husband unpack the paper bags of pantry items, God gave me a sweet reminder of how temporary this life is. He tugged on my heart. One day, she needed all these small life essentials, the next day, she didn't. The next day, Janet was with Jesus.
Our life on earth is temporary.
Our life with God is eternal.
And God has given us the beautiful gift of today!
So... today counts. I gently ask you, what are you going to do with the gift of today? I want to encourage you to use your gift of today to get close to Jesus.
Seek Him today. Open your Bible today. Draw closer to Him today. Sit down and really talk with Him today. Take up your cross and follow His path today. Begin to really live for Him today and store up your treasures in Heaven. Not when you have more time; when you are a little less busy... not at some point in the future... Oh, how He wants to be the Center of your life. Today.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Janet's life and Your gentle reminder that every day is a precious gift from You. I humbly thank You for Your beautiful gift of today. Amen.
My husband's mom, Janet, passed away last Sunday after a courageous battle with cancer. She passed beautifully from our world into Heaven. Jesus lovingly and gently received her into His arms...
My husband, Bruce, brought home items that were in Janet's pantry when she passed. He brought home brown grocery bags filled with aluminum foil, cans of tuna, soup, vitamins, cough drops, a loaf of bread, crackers, little individually wrapped crumb cakes...
As I carefully helped my husband unpack the paper bags of pantry items, God gave me a sweet reminder of how temporary this life is. He tugged on my heart. One day, she needed all these small life essentials, the next day, she didn't. The next day, Janet was with Jesus.
Our life on earth is temporary.
Our life with God is eternal.
And God has given us the beautiful gift of today!
So... today counts. I gently ask you, what are you going to do with the gift of today? I want to encourage you to use your gift of today to get close to Jesus.
Seek Him today. Open your Bible today. Draw closer to Him today. Sit down and really talk with Him today. Take up your cross and follow His path today. Begin to really live for Him today and store up your treasures in Heaven. Not when you have more time; when you are a little less busy... not at some point in the future... Oh, how He wants to be the Center of your life. Today.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Janet's life and Your gentle reminder that every day is a precious gift from You. I humbly thank You for Your beautiful gift of today. Amen.
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