Have A Nice Sunday & Remember That God DOES Care!

...and a nice holiday.

Remember that God always has our best interests at heart,

no matter what it looks like, sounds like or feels like.

He loves us, and that's why we love him!

 

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Image Credit: QuotesGram

Three Strikes And Satan Is Down! For A Season

He also uses trials to promote us higher into his benefits, so that along with our own blessings, we can better benefit others and glorify his name.

So I swallowed, ignored the pinprick of irritation,

and decided not to.

I made a comment in a craft forum, and someone else commented on my comment. She gave a definition of the word artisan and somewhat refuted my comment. She was not the OP and the dictionary def of the word had nothing to do with my point. I felt annoyed and wanted to comment back. I was going to say that I know the definition and that was not my point. I wondered if it really mattered. I had heard that we should choose our battles. This means to weigh the value of locking horns with someone, which I knew could happen. So I swallowed, ignored the pinprick of irritation, and decided not to.

So I squeezed my eyes shut and decided not to do it.

A little later the desire to challenge her returned. It just popped up. The devil is always busy. I was miffed, and wanted to tell her that I did not need her to post the definition of that word. I thought about what Jesus had said though about being a peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. I wanted to be called a child of God. I was really annoyed, but I wanted to be a peacemaker, so I squeezed my eyes shut and decided not to do it.

Later that day I felt the desire to confront her. It was stronger. It was so ridiculous that even I, the one who was feeling it, was able to step back and objectively ask what in the world?! Why is this back! Why is it stronger!!! I defeated it earlier!. I asked myself why I wanted to attack her, what was my goal, and what did I expect to accomplish. The idea of pride came up. I did not think about that word then, but an idea. In retrospect the word pride has appeared. Don't ask me how the word and the idea are different, lol. It's a psychological thing.

So I gritted my teeth, and decided not to.

I also knew from experience that confrontations like this can go on and on, exploding into something that causes destruction. That is the plan of the devil and his fallen angels, to lead us blindly down the path of destruction, like ignorant sheep to the slaughter. From a little thing to an atomic bomb, that's always his goal. I remember thinking this is a test. So I gritted my teeth, and decided not to, that it wasn't worth it. Then the pressure lifted.

It was a pressure that I was enduring. I see that now. A strong pressing, a heavy bearing, a subtle prodding. Almost irresistible. It left, and it was like a swirling, rushing breeze came in and twirled around me. I felt free. I felt like I could take deep breaths of fresh air. I felt released. As I write this I know that it is over, and that feeling to reprimand her will not return. I can truly ignore the post.

This experience reminds me of the temptation of Christ, who defeated Satan's three challenges with the Word of God. The third time Jesus resisted, that miraculous lying wonder left him for awhile. I didn't use the word of God, though I know many scriptures by heart, but I did use God's principles and one of the Beatitudes. My strength came from reading the Bible everyday, and through prayer committing my day to God, everyday.

It seems like a small thing, but these little skirmishes do matter. Being able to recognize them and who is behind the pressure that we feel to attack is important. God uses these trials to show us where we are in our growth. He also uses them to promote us higher into his benefits, so that along with our own blessings, we can better benefit others and glorify his name.
I feel great that that pressure is gone. I feel relief and I feel that I was successful. I must not stop, and rest on my laurels. The devil never rests, but neither does God. That fallen angel Lucifer was defeated, and left Christ for a season only. The opportunities to grow are never-ending.

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called the children of God.

 Matthew 5:9 KJV

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Luke 4:13 KJV

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior as it says in The Bible. Come into my heart, and save me now. I confess all of my sins to you and believe that you died for me so that I can come to know God. I believe and I receive all that you have for me. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way and help me to understand. Thank you that I don't have to fear death anymore, and that I have eternal life in you. 

Scriptures: BibleStudyTools.com 
Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

"Lord, I Just Want To Give Up, But Nothing Shall Be Impossible To Me."

 

Most of life is starting over, you know.

 

Have you had a big disappointment lately? Did something not work out, or did something change for the worse? Did someone let you down, or were you counting on something that did not develop? Does life just seem overwhelming at times? Do these things leave you feeling sad, lonely, depressed or hopeless? Do you just feel like not trying again? I'm sorry. Most of life is starting over, you know. We go to bed. We get up, and we start again. It certainly can be exhausting, and sometimes we just want to give up.

 

At times like that, all I have is The Word.

 

I felt that way a couple of times over the last 48 hrs. I said, "Lord, I just want to give up. It's too much. It's too hard. I'm just tired." At times like that, all I have is The Word, and I am always grateful when I feel like reading it, because there are times when I don't. Thankfully, those are few and far between.

 

It shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to me.

 

I always feel better when I just open the Bible and read, even if I still have to face a mountain. His word tells me that if I shall say to this mountain be removed and cast into the sea, it shall be done. If I shall say to this mountain remove hence to yonder place, it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to me.

 

This power is available to me.

 

I may not yet be able to grasp the manifestation of that in my everyday life, since daily issues can seem to proliferate, and seem so overwhelming. But, I feel better just knowing that this power is available to me.

 

There Is No Rock Like Our God! 

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior as it says in The Bible. Come into my heart, and save me now. I confess all of my sins to you and believe that you died for me so that I can come to know God. I believe and I receive all that you have for me. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way and help me to understand. Thank you that I don't have to fear death anymore, and that I have eternal life in you.

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

It Will Pay Off

 
Whenever you feel overwhelmed, go apart and read a little of the Bible. Even if you don't feel like it, and you just don't think you can, do it. You'll feel better. Just as you have, I also have asked why God allowed certain hard things to happen in my life, especially things involving my son when I was raising him. So much seems unfair. Some Christians say that we should never ask God why, but it is hard not to when we have suffered significantly throughout life.

God understands our hurt and frustration. Usually, there is no answer at this time for what seems senseless and unfair. But we, who choose to love God, believe that there is a reason for these things, because the Word tells us so. We hold on because there WILL be an end, whether we die or experience the Rapture first, and we don't want to be left out. We want to be with God forever and ever, so we hold on, through the pain of daily life in this world. We know that if we keep reminding ourselves of our faith in The One True God, the God who provided the Savior Jesus Christ for us, it will pay off in the end, and all pain and tears will be wiped away, forever.

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS NOT THERE. HE AROSE!!!

Bible Images: Pixabay.com
Church Image: Artsy Craftery Studio, "Village Idyllic" watercolor detail

Grab Hold To Courage Today

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

(Psalm 31:24 KJV)

Just ask The Lord God for courage to face what is before you. Courage is yours for the asking and receiving. We often don't have it in ourselves to face with strength the trials, sorrows, disappointments, requirements, tribulations, unfairness, rejections, horrors and struggles in this earthly life. God, in his mercy, that is not always evident, has provided help for us. He has opened the door for us to come to him at any time of the day or night, in our minds. Our minds are often very weak, and we just don't feel like coming to God's open door, even if it's just a thought away. The thoughts of this life and what many of us face every day overwhelm us. As long as we know, without a doubt, that we trust in the Lord, we know that we have help in any time of need. It may not seem like it at times, but our faith requires that we believe it. With that ever present belief will come change.

  

Ask him for courage today, and receive your strength. You may not feel it, but it will rise up and enforce in your circumstance God's power, and the power of all of his angels in Heaven, who encamp around you, because you have a Holy fear or reverence and appreciation of the Most High God, the Only Wise God, and the One True God.

Have You Made Jesus Christ your Savior? Have you wondered about it? Longed for it? Played around with the idea of becoming a Christian? Have you wondered if God could and would really ever help you? God the Father has made it possible for you to come to him and be saved forever in only one way, through accepting his only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior, and the only Savior of mankind. Choose to believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so that you can be safe in God's kingdom, safe in his loving arms. That's it. No matter what all of the different denominations and Christian organizations call it, it is the same. Say with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead for you, for each of us who choose to believe, and you shall be saved. Then you can go confidently before God at any time, and know that he hears your prayers and will always answer, according to his will, because you acknowledged his Son. You will never again have to fear death, because Jesus conquered it at God's request.

Image: Pixabay.com free images

The Christian, Mental Illness & God

When suffering with emotional and mental challenges, Christians often ask questions such as is something wrong with me? Who will help me? Should I see a doctor and get a diagnosis? Why is this happening to me? Does God really care? Will I ever be free from this horrible suffering? 

There are many reasons that we struggle mentally. Some of them are hereditary, trauma and tragedy. The environment in which we grew up can cause and/or increase mental struggles. Despite the severity of these challenges, the Christian has a source of help that others do not have. Chantal C., a Christian blogger and artist who has managed her mental challenges for many years, shares,

"When we suffer tragic events and huge changes in our lives that lead to trauma, and on top of that have a mental illness, life can overpower us. We may even be in therapy and taking medication but due to our inner suffering, our support network does not seem to be enough.

What it comes down to, is that when we feel overpowered, trapped and defenseless by situations that are happening in our lives, the one we must go to is God. He is the one that will empower us, free us and give us strength to live the life He wants us to.
We must also ask Him the difficult questions we cannot figure out and understand. Why the torment? What purpose does it serve? With God there is a reason and as painful as our torment is and as hopeless as we may get, we must remember to always trust in Him. He provides for us a way out of our anguish through prayer and Scripture. Let us not give up on His love and salvation, the grace He has given us. Let us always strive for that newness of life in Christ."

I met Chantal through a Google+ Christian group, and was impressed by her insight, progress and honesty in journeying through the painful valley of Christian mental illness. I consider mental illness to be a challenge more so than a death sentence, though sadly it has resulted in death for many. It is, however, no more difficult to manage than other life challenges that also have resulted in death for Christians.

We don't know the answer as to why some Christians are crippled beyond repair by damaged emotions and mental processes, just as there is no understandable answer as to why some people in this world suffer so much more than others. Whatever the level or severity of the mental challenge of any Christian, the answer is always to look to God through Jesus Christ and what he did for us on the Cross. There is always hope in suffering, but some are so damaged as to not be able to grasp this hope, to go about obtaining help, or even to pray. It is important for us who can to always pray for those who suffer mentally and emotionally and who cannot help themselves.

Chantal graciously agreed to answer some deep questions about living with and healing from mental illness and emotional challenges. Here are her heartfelt, insightful and profound answers.

1.  When did you first know that you needed help with your mental processes? 
Though I struggled with mental illness most of my life, it was not until seven years ago, in 2008, that I realized I needed help. My world came crashing down on me and I needed hospitalization. I no longer had the mental and physical health I once did. My body shut down and depression settled within me. I felt like I was failing at life, making one mistake after another—broken relationships and lost of employments. I was once very motivated and had my own photography business but as time went on, it seemed like I was fading away from all that was positive in my life.

I realized I needed extra support when I overdosed twice in 2011. I was living with many life-changing experiences all at once and my mental health could not handle it.

I remember when I came out of the psychiatric hospital how ill I still was. My mind was filled with dark thoughts all the while I felt so alone inside. My emotions where still out of control as they wrestled within me. However, four months later I received the support I needed.

2.  Was there anyone to help you? 
I had many counselors since 2008 but it was in January 2012 that I finally found the right therapist. I started to work on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for personality disorders. This helped me tremendously to understand negative thought patterns, emotions and behavior. I am still in therapy as it takes many years to recover from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Nevertheless, I am healing and doing better than ever.

I also received spiritual guidance. This helped me to seek deliverance as I became closer to God. I also learned many things about myself and God, especially that there was hope for me and that I could find it in Jesus. I was encouraged to read Scripture such as Psalm 51. Eventually, I knew God was giving me a fresh start—a chance at recovery.

3. Did you have formal diagnosis and treatment, and what advice do you give about seeking it?

When in hospital in 2011, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), later confirmed by another psychiatrist. The diagnosis was a relief to me, as I finally knew what mental illness I suffered from. This explained why I had such a chaotic and distressing life. Receiving a diagnosis helped me to realize I was not the only one struggling this way. This gave me hope. I then started my recovery journey consisting of therapy, medication and spirituality.

In my opinion, I think it is important for a person with mental illness to receive a diagnosis. This guides them in the proper direction for their healing process. Accepting what illness they have and seeking the right support are the first steps to recovery.

4.  How long have you known the Lord and how did you become a Christian? 
I have known the Lord since my early childhood years. My mother was there for me and shared her beliefs about God. As I got older, due to my symptoms, I often drifted on and off my Christian path. One thing I have always known throughout the years was that Jesus was my Savior. I always found consolation in knowing this, especially through the difficult times.

Nevertheless, it was not until three and half years ago that I truly became new in Christ and felt like my life was being transformed. I grew stronger in hope and trust towards God, and my recovery. I started to live that intimate relationship with Jesus, even in the midst of illness. 

5.  During your hardest times, have you ever felt that God does not care, or wondered if He even exists?

I know God always exists, but I felt like God did not care so much, when I lived through spiritual emptiness. These were times where I felt a deep emptiness within my core.  Moreover, I could not sense Him, feeling lost in my spiritual life and on my recovery journey. During the past four years, I have experienced spiritual emptiness many times. I either experienced it for hours, days or even months. Nonetheless, this emptiness would not last, my soul would resurface to God’s Light and I would be in awe of Him—knowing that He is always there even in the darkness.

6. How do you justify the suffering of mental illness with God's love? 
God loves all His children. The suffering that Christians with mental illness go through, is due to this fallen world we live in.  God does not want us to feel the agony of mental illness; He wants us to be happy, healthy and holy.

In order for this to happen, we must realize that we have a recovery journey to undertake and that an essential part of it concerns our relationship with God. We must seek Him with all our hearts in order to heal. Just as we have to accept our mental illness, we have to accept that God’s love is there for us, no matter what we have. Moreover, that His love is stronger than all our weaknesses.

7.  When did you start writing about your journey? 
I was inspired to write about my recovery journey during the year of 2012. When I became new in Christ, I felt called to share God’s Word, especially in a way that would help others with mental illness. Through my lived-experience and this newness of life, I decided at the end of the year to publish my blog. I not only wanted to express my healing process but also give others hope that recovery is possible. 

8.  What is your goal when you write about being a Christian with mental illnesses? 
I want people who are Christians and have mental illness such as BPD, to not feel alone with their inner pain. I know from my own experience the confusion and self-condemnation I struggled with concerning symptoms and faith. I believe others may feel the same way, therefore my goal is to be real, ease the suffering, give hope, offer compassion, and share God’s message. Therefore, to bring them closer to God with a better understanding of themselves within their Christian faith.

9.  When did you start painting and what do you do with your work? 
I have been painting on and off during my life, but the work that I treasure most is what I have worked on during these past four years. My paintings have expressed my pain with mental illness but also the hope of recovery.

I presently share my work on my blog and with Google+ communities.

10.  Are you trying to share a message through your paintings? 
While viewing abstract art, a person can see many things and feel different emotions. Therefore, it is something one lives for themselves. However, what I hope for others to experience when they see my paintings is to be moved in a positive way, and that the artwork may speak to them personally.

11. Can the Christian with mental illness be completely free of it? 
I believe that Christians who suffer from mental illness can find freedom from the torment of their symptoms especially if they have chosen a spiritual life along their recovery journey. Besides therapy and medication, finding our spiritual identity in the midst of the healing process is essential to that freedom.

I believe that individuals with BPD can recover, without a doubt, from their mental illness. I say this because I have always believed from the beginning of my recovery journey that I would recover someday, and I am gradually, three years later. Besides therapy, I knew I could only recover with my ultimate Healer—God. 

I think that recovery, for Christians with mental illness, becomes a success when they have stopped suffering from the majority of their symptoms, and they have started to discover and accept their individuality and the truth about themselves—who they really are without the illness. It is when they have finally found their way to that happier, healthier and holier life. They are free from the inner pain, they sense joy and peace in their lives, and the wounds that their soul suffered from, are finally healed.

Chantal C.

Chantal C. has lived with mental illness since her early teens. Her turning point came in 2012, when with therapy and spirituality she gained insight into her illnesses. Though she had drifted in and out of her faith as a Christian, during this time she found new life in Christ. Her desire is to offer hope to other Christian mental illness sufferers. She enjoys painting, photography and writing, and considers these activities to be healing therapies. 

Chantal has discontinued her two blogs,  Mental Illness & The Christian Faith, and Chantal's Art & Photography, and is working on a new blog presence.

 

How To Replace Death With Life

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. (John 5:22-23 NIV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24, KJV)

Just as the Father is himself the source of life, in the same way he has made his Son to be the source of life.  (John 5:26, GNT)

Because I live, you will live too. (John 14:19)

Jesus Christ of Nazareth spoke the truth about himself.  

Pass from death to life, today.

Image Credit: Pixabay Free Images

Luxuriating On Sunday

When I was young, and not so young, I used to hate Sundays. I dreaded the ending of Saturday night, because I knew it was coming...that day, that strange day. Sunday was a day that was filled with silence, boredom, and guilt. Where I come from, all stores were closed on Sundays, or closed very early or opened very late. There was hardly any traffic, and hardly any pedestrians, because mostly everyone who did not go to Church slept in late.

Especially as a child, the prettier the sky on Sunday, the more it reminded me of God, and that he probably didn't like it because I was not in church. I don't know why big, fluffy, rolling white clouds reminded me of God and church. Probably because I often saw images like this on hand fans and obituaries whenever I did attend a church service.

Though it was a day filled with extra good food and desserts, Sunday was a day to be quiet. If you weren't told to be quite, you were inclined to be quiet because the world was. It was a laborious day to get through. I wanted the noise of traffic, and people and worldly activity to drown out any guilt that I felt about not reverencing God on that day.

Even the TV programs were different. Singing choirs and men talking and yelling about things of God. Hardly any good programs came on at all. I had to wait until afternoon or evening to see anything interesting. Even then, it usually wasn't my good, favorite programs. Just programs to drag myself through until Monday, when the world would return to normal. Many things have changed since I was that young, worldly, fearful, bored youth, wishing for any day but Sunday.

I enjoy Sundays now. Though these reserved days still fill me with quietness, it's a different type of quietness; and there is no guilt. In most places I have lived, there is almost no difference between Sundays and other days of the week. There is little change in traffic, pedestrian or otherwise. Stores are open by 10:00 am, if not all day. More people work on Sundays now than when I was young; this being a necessity for many of the services that we enjoy.

I feel a reverence on Sundays now, towards a God who wants me to slow down and rest one day per week. I know that if not Sunday, I should live a slower life on another day, each week. I see the value of having one day that is very different from the other six. The towering, puffy clouds on a Sunday day, or any day, remind me of a God who loves me unconditionally, not of condemnation. There is no more guilt on any Sunday, no matter what I do or don't do; whether I am in church physically, or not. There is no more fear, or boredom on this unusual day. I can enjoy and luxuriate on that wind-down day, no matter what. I know that this God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to remove all of my guilt, and self-imposed judgments, and I don't have to fear anymore.

Image Credit: Pixabay Free Images

The Truth About Some Fears

As many of us have, I have been battling fear of various things, almost at every turn. There are many things to fear in our society today, and it's not getting any better, as the Bible predicts. Couple this fact with the many fears in our personal lives, and you have a scenario of relentless and increasing torment.

I began to reach out to Christian friends for prayer, without burdening them with details.

I had begun to seek an answer, through consistent and specific prayer, to eradicating this unhealthy fear. I also began to reach out to Christian friends, without unloading and burdening them with too much detail, for help through prayer. I woke up this morning with an interesting revelation.

I already understood that casting down imagination is vital to freedom from fear. My revelation was that there were other things that I had not been casting down, because I did not understand them to be thoughts that needed that. We think constantly, so may feel that if we cast down every jot of thoughts, we would be mentally lobotomizing our brains. We would become vegetables, therefore we know that we have to pick and choose which thoughts to cast down. This sounds like an easy task, but that is why we need God. It is not always as cut and dried as all that. Sometimes there can be a thin line.

Some fears are extensions of real occurrences, and mask themselves as preparation.

I was shown this morning that there were thoughts that I allowed to flourish because I had identified them as highly-likely future occurrences, whether that future is today, next month or next year. We usually see fears as imaginary, or in the mind, or made up. The most damaging fears that I have been enduring are extensions of real occurrences.  Because of this, I did not see them as thoughts that needed to be cast down. My mind had labeled them as highly likely, leading me to allow them to flourish so that I could devise a plan to stop or circumvent them.

My inner man saw it as preparing myself, or being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. The resulting fears were running rampant because technically and realistically, I could not control nor prevent these possible developments, no matter how small or large they might be. It seems very simple and that I should not have needed revelation to understand. It seems a moot subject, a given, elementary, but that is why we need God. It is not always as cut and dried as all that.

Even as reborn spirits that have a direct link to God, we still have blind spots. We currently live in a fallen world and exist in fallen bodies, so we enter blind spots often. To not understand the revelation of this and to not accept it is to be continually plagued by failures in our lives, and to be confused by our lack of advancement in some areas. Ignoring this knowledge also means that we will not be able to receive God's answer when we ask, seek and knock.

Though God sometimes removes bad circumstances, the answer to freedom is often within.

The answer is not always in the changing or removal of outward circumstances, no matter how difficult, challenging or horrific. How many times have we heard or read that? It is a hard pill to swallow, depending on what you are going through. Though God certainly changes and removes bad circumstances for some, and sometimes for us in his timing, the answer to freedom is often within. There are times that we cannot find it though, without Him.

God removes the dark glasses, raises the blinds and strips off from our eyes and minds the gauze of each gossamer veil that we could never find or remove. About the simplest things, He reveals deep answers that are too confusingly deep and simple for us to ever dig out. Time and time again He has shown me that though the answer was right before me, like a pebble in my path, and simple in comparison to what I was thinking, I would never have found it had He not revealed it to me.

We need God to help us find the answer that is a pebble in our path that we kick to the side, or step over and go on our way.

When we pray, we think that we already understand. This is why my consistent prayer is for him to make my eye single, make my crooked paths straight and order my steps in His word. The battle is certainly not over, but I have advanced.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 

(Matthew 6:22 KJV)

 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

(Isaiah 42:16 NKJV)

  Make my steps secure through your promise, and do not let any sin control me. 

(Psalm 119:133 GW)

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God Is Processing It For You

As we are believing, praying and waiting for various things to come to pass in our lives, it helps to understand that our God is a god of processes. The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines a process as  "A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result." We can see this behavior of God at the beginning of the Bible.

A process is "A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result."

We can see God's principle of processes by starting in Genesis, where we are told that He created the Heavens and the Earth in 6 days. The 7th day was also a process; the process of purposeful, scheduled rest. Even when we experience what appears to be an instantaneous miracle, it is the result of God's procedure of instigating processes to bring about a desired result.

I've heard it said that any person becomes saved because at some time in history, someone prayed for that person. That was a process. Angels were dispatched and the Holy Ghost commissioned to bring about the work. They attended to the drawing of that person to the salvation that God offers through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus Christ. Some experienced that process when they fought with God before yielding to His calling. Others were not aware of God's process when they surrendered to God without a long battle.

A process is used "To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process," or procedure.

Another illuminating definition for the word process is "To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process." The word procedure also defines how God operates. "A process is a set or series of actions directed to some end or a natural series of changes; a procedure is a series of actions conducted in a certain manner, an established way of doing something."

"A procedure is a series of actions conducted in a certain manner, an established way of doing something." 

Understanding that God is a god of procedures and processes helps us to endure, with Godliness, the trials and tribulations that He allows to come upon us. It does not matter how small or how devastating a test, trial or training is. If it has the potential to discourage, depress and distract the servant of God, then we must embrace it as a process of God. In order to triumph in our walk with God, we have to accept that He always uses processes and procedures, whether He speeds up or slows down the realization of the end result.

Only in understanding this can the strengthening scriptures take root and empower us to overcome challenges and grow in the Lord.

Only in understanding this can the strengthening scriptures take root and empower us. Romans 8:28 means nothing without grasping hold to this operation of God. Isaiah 26:3 falls on deft ears without considering this principle of God. Romans 12:2 is useless without understanding that God creates change through processes. James 1:4 will bear no fruit without the hearer understanding that God is a god of processes. We need firm footing in order to cooperate with God when we are asked to endure. Only then can we obtain what He so lovingly wants to give.

One day is like a thousand years to God, and vice versa. Even so, it is still a process. Whether we feel the processing in our flesh, or whether our desires seem to manifest swiftly and miraculously, God began the process of delivering to us long ago. He will keep His promises to us, and His Word is true. If we choose to understand this simple principle of God and endure in the way in which He would have us to, then we'll reap all of our desires that we long for and ask for, according to His will.

We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him,

those whom he has called according to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28 GNT)

 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

(Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

(Romans 12:2 NIV)

But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

(James 1:4)

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Image credit: plaum

Scriptures taken from: BibleStudyTools.com
All definitions taken from: TheFreeDictionary.com

Praise The Lord Through It All

Bless His Name and Praise Him during this season between Christmas and New Year's Day. Prepare for a year of praising Him everyday. Praise Him through the good times. Praise Him through the bad times.

Praise Him when you feel great! Praise Him when you feel terrible! Praise Him continuously and completely. Let everything that has breath Praise The Lord!!!

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100 KJV)

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Scripture From: BibleStudyTools.com 

Lift Your Mind Above Defeat

"No one can ever overcome anything until his thoughts are creative and positive. It is important that you lift your mind to a higher level.

Mentally, as you raise your mind above the defeats and conflicts you face, your personality will receive help from God in the form of clear thinking, resolute reaching out toward happiness, deeper understanding, and renewed strength.

When your thoughts are in confusion, you live in an unreal world, and you cannot see your way up and out of it."

I think the resolute reaching out for happiness is one of the most critical abilities that we need help with. It is during those times of severe discouragement and depression that we feel that we simply cannot make any effort. We can't try anymore. We can't pray. We can't have hope. We can't believe. We just can't make it anymore. Happiness is a choice that we sometimes feel we just can't make, but we can. We can learn how to do this under any circumstances. It will release great blessings for us, and for others.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, which is where my help comes from (paraphrased).

(Psalm 121:1)

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Excerpt from How To Handle Tough Times, A Guideposts Outreach Publication ©1990 Peale Center For Christian Living

Image Credit: Pixabay.com Free Images

With Faith

If you have received this week's post via email or maybe feed, you may not be able to see this video by Kutless, titled What Faith Can Do.

Follow the link to the blog so that you can be inspired by this great song, which has the lyrics displayed also.

Just another reminder that it is your growing faith that will carry you through to all of the wonderful blessings that you are believing God for.

Without faith you cannot stand firm and wait, expecting what he has already sent your way.

Faith is necessary to obtain what you have asked God for.

You can tell what you have faith in by what you do each day.

If you say you have faith that something great is going to happen in your life, and you don't find yourself doing little things to prepare for it, you don't REALLY believe it. If you don't REALLY believe it, you can't receive it. So the question to ask yourself is this, If I have asked and confessed that I believe that God has heard me, and that this thing is done in God's spiritual world, why am I not preparing to receive it in my natural world? Why am I going about each day as if nothing is coming? Why am I having to ask God for the same thing over and over again, if I really believe that it is done?

It is easy to grow your faith. Ask God to increase it, and then obey as he prompts you. He will make sure that you will feel the prompting when he does it. It will be up to you to respond and obey.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because God is pleased when our lives reflect health, wealth, happiness, joy, peace, compassion, love, long-suffering, goodness and meekness, under all circumstances. These things bless us and elevate us above the darkness of this world. God is happy and pleased when we are living with his best and growing into more of his best, every day, no matter what our circumstances are. These things can be received only through faith.

Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. 

(Mark 9:23, NKJV)

Belief is the same as 

F * A * I * T * H.

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Scriptures taken from: Bible Study Tools

Seeing The Ducks For What They Are

We serve a Good God, the Most High God, the Only Wise God, the One True God. No matter what is looks like and sounds like, God is in control of our lives, if we've given him that. It is said that if it looks like a duck and quacks like duck, it is a duck. The world, the flesh and the devil would have us believe that the struggles, difficulties, challenges, trials and tribulations that we are experiencing is just the way it is, and will always be. There is another way, though, to think upon this.

The negatives in our lives that look like ducks and sound like ducks are not ducks. They are not what it is. The only thing that IS is our God. He has our very best interests at heart. The Heart of God IS. The Heart of God IS alive. The Heart of God IS caring.

If you are challenged today or tonight; depressed, downtrodden, disturbed, disabled, devastated, dislocated, discombobulated or demeaned, remember what God can, will and IS doing in your life.  He IS the Great I AM. He's not just some shadowy, idealistic vapor in our imagination, and way up there somewhere. He is here. Let go. Believe. Submit to his loving care, his instructions, his prompting, for he IS: the RESTORER, the RENOVATOR, the REVEALER,  the REPLENISHER, the RENEWER, the REVITALIZER, the REJUVENATOR, the REFUELER, the RESTOCKER and the REDEEMER!


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
(I Chron. 16:34 NIV).

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Image Credit: http://newlaunchout.com/bartley-ridge/
Scripture Source: http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=give+thanks+to+the+Lord.

Ask For Courage To Hold On

Some challenges and trials just seem to be too severe to continue enduring. We're not sure how to handle a particular situation that is unfair, depressing, painful, distressing or even devastating. We wonder why it is happening. Like with Job, some may come to say that we've done something wrong, or offended God in some way, but Job had not committed any wrong that justified his suffering. When we honestly can't think of an offense that we may have done, we are once again puzzled and depressed about why this agonizing situation is happening to us.

Sometimes, we feel guilty about past thoughts and deeds, and wonder if we are being punished for them. If we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all that He did to pay the price of sin for us, we know that God does not punish us. When we remember the absolutes of the Gospel, we again wonder why we are going through this. We again ask why is it happening.

We understand that though we've been forgiven by God through Jesus' sacrifice for us, often we have to live with the consequences of past deeds. Sometimes we can make them right and enjoy smooth sailing regarding those deeds, and sometimes not. God does not always prevent or alleviate the reaping in this earth of what we sow. If this is not the case, reaping for sowing, regarding a particular trial, then what is it?

The truth is that there is often no answer, that we could ever find in this world, for what we are suffering through. Sometimes we are not given an answer when we ask God why. It has been said that some answers will not come until we are with God. Of course, ironically it probably won't matter then.

Whatever the cause of what you are going through, if you believe God and His Word, you will want to hold on through it all. You'll want to endure until the end of the trial; because often there is a special blessing in it for us. There is often the growth to be had that we need in order to receive the higher up blessings that we desire. And the end will come, one way or another. God has ordained an end to suffering I once heard someone say. I believe that. Whether your trial is mental, physical, emotional, social, financial, etc., it will not go on longer than God allows. It is to the Christian that all things work together for good. It is to those who believe that God takes hard and difficult things and turns them in to something good.

Dear Lord: Bless this reader with courage to hold on to faith and to endure what you have allowed. Help him to stand firm and obtain the blessing that this trial will provide. Give her the wisdom to discern between what you have allowed and what circumstances are not of you. Bless him with the knowledge to end any trial or challenge that is not ordained by you. In Jesus' name I ask. Amen.

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