Previously

 Previously 

Not too many people know about my last job’s problem.  I don’t talk a lot about it.  I had a tormentor who accused me of things I didn’t do.  I was a security guard at a gated community and for some reason this man decided I was a problem for him.  I had to interact with him and all he really needed to do was put in a code on a call box and drive through the gate.  But he took it upon himself to start accusing me of doing sexually explicit things while at work.  Things I had not done.  Due to bad management and police being unwilling to do anything I left that job.  I now have a higher paying and easier job that I am thankful for.  I became living proof of what Jesus said in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:10-12

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.  Be happy about it!  Be very glad!  For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

See my year started off horribly and I can tell you it hurt a lot but I look back and God put me in a better situation.  Maybe you’re in a struggle where something similar is happening to you.  I want to encourage you to keep your eyes on God.  You may not see it but he’s working on your behalf.  Keep your focus where it needs to be and that’s on God.  

“When you’re up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams 

And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by satan’s manifested schemes 

And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears

Don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear 

Praise the Lord, he can work through those who praise him

Praise the Lord for our God inhabits praise 

Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you when you 

Praise the Lord”

Praise the Lord by the Imperials

For such a time by Kim Hill

Overloaded

 

Overloaded 

 

We live in an age of information overload.  Sometimes we need to take a step back from all the stuff trying to grab our attention.  We need God’s wisdom.  I play a game and, in my alliance, we make it a point to help lower level players.  We pass down advice.  Well in the book of James he gives us some.  

 

James 1:5

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking.”  

 

We need time to be in God’s Word and seek him.  Why?  Because it will change us from the inside out.  

 

King Solomon wrote things down that he passed down to his son and we can benefit from this.  

 

Proverbs 2:1-10

“My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.  Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.  Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.  For the Lord grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.  He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.  He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.  

 

Then you will understand what is right, just and fair, and you will find the right way to go.  For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will fill you with joy.”

 

Pursuing God’s wisdom is better than anything the world offers.  

 

 

Counsel of the Holy by Petra 

Seek first by Susan Ashton 

Touch your people by SteveGreen 

Joyful Hope

 

Joyful hope

 

Politically we are in very uncertain times.  That statement can apply to most any time in history.  But I want you to see something.   You may not always think of Hope as being joyful.  

 

Psalm 146:3-5

 

“Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no hope for you there.  When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.  But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”  

 

Hope in God can cause us to be joyful!

 

It also gives God, Joy when we hope in Him.  Look at this.

 

Psalm 147:10-11

 

“He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.  No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their Hope in his unfailing love.”  

 

 Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  It’s not currency on a sci fi show or dishwashing soap. 

 

Don’t believe me look at Galatians 5:22-23

 

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  There is no law against these things.”  

 

It’s a spiritual math equation.  Hope + God = Joy.  Finally, a word problem we can all live with.  You people know I base a lot of how I do these blogs much like a wrestling promo.  Well, there it is.  I gave you my points I got your attention, hopefully, and gave you a math problem as your go home line. Now go put your Hope in God not man.  

 

 

 

Joy of the Lord by Twila Paris

There is joy in the Lord by Cheri Keaggy 

Trust in the Lord by Girls of Grace 

 

Still Sharing

 Still sharing 

So I told Marion yesterday morning something that was bothering me.  To some it would seem silly.  I posted this thing on Facebook asking how we met.  A whole mess of people commented.  That’s not what bothered me.  No what bothered me is this.  Weekly I do a weekly Bible study blog and I also share it as a video I get less reaction from that than I would from a silly post about how I met someone.  Here’s why it bugs me.  I posted before about the doubt and how many times I’ve considered quitting doing this blog.  I get on Facebook and see people constantly talking about struggles with anxiety and depression or a bad day.  I share a Bible study blog each week with an emphasis on Hope found in God’s Word.  The hope people need is being ignored.  I’m sharing it trying to help and well people are looking in the wrong direction.  But I won’t stop.  I can’t, God has given me a mission.  If one person draws closer to God by me posting a blog or a video then I have accomplished what I set out to do because that person matters to God.  I’m going to share with you a Psalm of King David crying out to God because all of us need to know where to turn in times of trouble.  

Psalm 143

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; Listen to my plea!  Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.  Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.  My enemy has chased me.  He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.  I’m losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.  I remember the days of old.  I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.  I lift my hands to you in prayer.  I thirst for you as a parched land thirsts for rain.  

Come quickly, Lord answer me, for my depression deepens.  Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.  Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.  Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.  Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.  For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.  Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.  In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.”  

He struggled and he sought God.  That’s where we need to turn.  

1 Corinthians 1:3-4

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God our merciful Father and source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Like Casting Crowns said in their song.

“Like voices in the wilderness, we’re crying out

As the day draws near

We’ll sing until the whole world hears.”  

People may ignore the blog but I’m going to keep sharing in hope that one person draws closer to God.  

May your wonders never cease by Third Day

The Cry by Whiteheart 

The Mission by Steve Green 

Until the Whole World Hears by CastingCrowns