“In that day
“I will restore David’s fallen shelter—
I will repair its broken walls
and restore its ruins—
and will rebuild it as it used to be,
In this passage God has just stated how he will destroy the Israelites because of their sin, then he tells them how he will restore them. As we deal with the wreckage of our lives (family problems, work problems, depression, addiction, natural disasters, loss of a job, health issues, etc...), we to are promised restoration. We may see some restoration in the world, but more importantly, we will receive complete restoration when we are with God.
Lord, thank you for the gift of restoration. Please help us to not loose hope, but to look to you to be made complete again. Amen.
Showing posts with label struggles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label struggles. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
1 Corinthians 12:22 - Weaker vs. stronger parts of the body
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
The other day I watched a movie/documentary about a group on the "Camino de Santiago" which is a pilgrimage/walk through Spain ending at the possible site of the grave of James the Apostle. The scene from this movie which is stuck in my head is when the group realizes they all have to start walking together. Up to this point, the stronger people would just walk on at their comfortable pace and leave the weaker walkers behind. When they all started walking together, they realized it made them all stronger. It was easier for the struggling walkers to keep up and a harder for the stronger walkers to slow their pace and help their weaker brothers. The work evened out. This stronger realized they needed the weaker to make this walk more meaningful.
Lord, thank you for making each of us an important part of your body. Please help us to respect others in your body work together. Amen.
The other day I watched a movie/documentary about a group on the "Camino de Santiago" which is a pilgrimage/walk through Spain ending at the possible site of the grave of James the Apostle. The scene from this movie which is stuck in my head is when the group realizes they all have to start walking together. Up to this point, the stronger people would just walk on at their comfortable pace and leave the weaker walkers behind. When they all started walking together, they realized it made them all stronger. It was easier for the struggling walkers to keep up and a harder for the stronger walkers to slow their pace and help their weaker brothers. The work evened out. This stronger realized they needed the weaker to make this walk more meaningful.
Lord, thank you for making each of us an important part of your body. Please help us to respect others in your body work together. Amen.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Psalm 135:7 - God is in control
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
This is such a beautiful passage. In this season of stormy spring weather, I am reminded that God is in control. He makes it, sends it and brings it.
Lord, thank you for the ferocious beauty of nature which you have created. Please help us to trust in you through all the storms of life. Amen.
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
This is such a beautiful passage. In this season of stormy spring weather, I am reminded that God is in control. He makes it, sends it and brings it.
Lord, thank you for the ferocious beauty of nature which you have created. Please help us to trust in you through all the storms of life. Amen.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Psalm 119:71 - Good from bad
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
Sometimes God lets us go through something bad to get to something good.
Lord, thank you for doing what is best for us, Please help us to endure the afflictions in our life. Amen.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Psalm 113:9 - God cares about our problems
He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
We all have struggles in this life. In the two verses before this one tells how God helps the poor and needy and raises them up. The wonderful thing is that God cares about our problems. He sees us. He knows our pain and struggles and he offers comfort for his children, his followers. Sometimes God takes the pain or problem away and sometimes he helps us bear through it, but either way his love is evident.
Lord, thank you for caring about our problems. Please help us to always seek you when we are struggling and be willing to go through the situation with you by our side. Amen.
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
We all have struggles in this life. In the two verses before this one tells how God helps the poor and needy and raises them up. The wonderful thing is that God cares about our problems. He sees us. He knows our pain and struggles and he offers comfort for his children, his followers. Sometimes God takes the pain or problem away and sometimes he helps us bear through it, but either way his love is evident.
Lord, thank you for caring about our problems. Please help us to always seek you when we are struggling and be willing to go through the situation with you by our side. Amen.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Psalm 106:13 - God's timing
But they soon forgot what he had done
and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
Psalm 106 tells of the repeated forgetfulness of the Israelites. So many times God's people disobeyed him and broke their covenant with him. They repeated the cycle over and over of disobedience, struggle, and returning to God. We also quickly forget what God has done for us: how he has made a plan for the forgiveness of our sins, helped us and comforted us. Then we get impatient and forgetful and rebel again. God's plan is not something we always see. We have to focus on God regardless of our circumstances and wait on his timing.
Lord, thank you for your plan. Please help us to be patient and fully reliant on you. Amen.
and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
Psalm 106 tells of the repeated forgetfulness of the Israelites. So many times God's people disobeyed him and broke their covenant with him. They repeated the cycle over and over of disobedience, struggle, and returning to God. We also quickly forget what God has done for us: how he has made a plan for the forgiveness of our sins, helped us and comforted us. Then we get impatient and forgetful and rebel again. God's plan is not something we always see. We have to focus on God regardless of our circumstances and wait on his timing.
Lord, thank you for your plan. Please help us to be patient and fully reliant on you. Amen.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Psalm 105:25 - Hate...for a purpose?
whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
to conspire against his servants.
Psalm 105 is a brief history of the Jewish people from Joseph to Moses and the exodus from Egypt. Verse 25 explains that God turned the hearts of the Egyptians against his people. It is frustrating when someone doesn't like us. It may not be as extreme as and entire nation hating another, but either way it can make our lives miserable. We may question ourselves and allow it to destroy our lives. But we never know what God's plans are. In the case of the Israelites, God was actually causing the hate. It was a part of his plan to get his people out of Egypt. God can use any negative in our lives for good. Sometimes we see the final result and it all makes sense. Sometimes we don't, but the thing to remember is our job is to focus on God and glorifying his name.
Lord, thank you for your plan in our lives. Please help us to be patient and focus on you when life is difficult. Amen.
to conspire against his servants.
Psalm 105 is a brief history of the Jewish people from Joseph to Moses and the exodus from Egypt. Verse 25 explains that God turned the hearts of the Egyptians against his people. It is frustrating when someone doesn't like us. It may not be as extreme as and entire nation hating another, but either way it can make our lives miserable. We may question ourselves and allow it to destroy our lives. But we never know what God's plans are. In the case of the Israelites, God was actually causing the hate. It was a part of his plan to get his people out of Egypt. God can use any negative in our lives for good. Sometimes we see the final result and it all makes sense. Sometimes we don't, but the thing to remember is our job is to focus on God and glorifying his name.
Lord, thank you for your plan in our lives. Please help us to be patient and focus on you when life is difficult. Amen.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Psalm 102:2 - Sending up an SOS
Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
There are times when there is nothing we can do but pray. We don't know how to solve the problem. We're not even sure what the solution is. But with faith in God, we know he hears, we know he sees us in our distress. We know he will take care of us.
Lord, thank you for the assurance of your help. Please be patient with us when we are crying out to you, feeling abandoned and hopeless. Amen.
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
There are times when there is nothing we can do but pray. We don't know how to solve the problem. We're not even sure what the solution is. But with faith in God, we know he hears, we know he sees us in our distress. We know he will take care of us.
Lord, thank you for the assurance of your help. Please be patient with us when we are crying out to you, feeling abandoned and hopeless. Amen.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Psalm 94:19 - Anxiety
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
I learned something the other day I need to share to correct some of my earlier blog posts. David did not write all the psalms. Some of the psalms say "Of David," some say others, some don't give an author. So...I just thought I needed to clear that up.
Psalm 94 focuses on the cries of an oppressed people. Today, my life is so easy and I have never lived as an oppressed person, but I can imagine how much comfort the Jews in concentration camps in WWII took from these passages. I have nothing like the anxiety I know they must have felt, but if God can bring consolation to anxiety on that level, then he can surely ease my anxiety and bring me joy.
Lord, thank you for consoling us in our anxiety. Please help us to rely on you with the anxieties in our life. Amen.
your consolation brought me joy.
I learned something the other day I need to share to correct some of my earlier blog posts. David did not write all the psalms. Some of the psalms say "Of David," some say others, some don't give an author. So...I just thought I needed to clear that up.
Psalm 94 focuses on the cries of an oppressed people. Today, my life is so easy and I have never lived as an oppressed person, but I can imagine how much comfort the Jews in concentration camps in WWII took from these passages. I have nothing like the anxiety I know they must have felt, but if God can bring consolation to anxiety on that level, then he can surely ease my anxiety and bring me joy.
Lord, thank you for consoling us in our anxiety. Please help us to rely on you with the anxieties in our life. Amen.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Psalm 89:21 - God will take care of him
My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.
When someone you love is struggling, it is hard to watch. When you have hopes and dreams for them and you see some of those hopes and dreams falling away, it is so disappointing. But I have to remember, God is in control. He will sustain and strengthen them. He will let the things happen that need to happen. I am not in control of the situation and worry will not help. Look for the blessings within each disappointment and manage our expectations.
Lord, thank you for taking care of those we love. Please help them to reach out for your sustenance and strength. Amen.
surely my arm will strengthen him.
When someone you love is struggling, it is hard to watch. When you have hopes and dreams for them and you see some of those hopes and dreams falling away, it is so disappointing. But I have to remember, God is in control. He will sustain and strengthen them. He will let the things happen that need to happen. I am not in control of the situation and worry will not help. Look for the blessings within each disappointment and manage our expectations.
Lord, thank you for taking care of those we love. Please help them to reach out for your sustenance and strength. Amen.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Psalm 71:20 - Choosing peace in the chaos
Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
This weekend I went to a Ladies Day with the theme of "Choosing Peace in the Chaos." I really needed this last night when dealing with home restoration issues. I allowed myself to get so down and depressed, until I realized, I have a choice of how I react to this. I have been working on seeing the blessing within every problem. The fact that I am having problems with our home restoration means I have a house. If I am complaining about my job, I need to remember what a blessing it is to have a job. When I am complaining about the struggles I have overeating, remember I am not struggling to get enough to eat. We will have troubles, but God restores us.
Lord, thank you for restoration. Please help us to choose peace in the chaos. Amen.
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
This weekend I went to a Ladies Day with the theme of "Choosing Peace in the Chaos." I really needed this last night when dealing with home restoration issues. I allowed myself to get so down and depressed, until I realized, I have a choice of how I react to this. I have been working on seeing the blessing within every problem. The fact that I am having problems with our home restoration means I have a house. If I am complaining about my job, I need to remember what a blessing it is to have a job. When I am complaining about the struggles I have overeating, remember I am not struggling to get enough to eat. We will have troubles, but God restores us.
Lord, thank you for restoration. Please help us to choose peace in the chaos. Amen.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Psalm 68:19 - Ready to listen, anytime
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Who do you talk to when you need to vent and share your problems? Do you have a good friend or family member who listens to you? Do you go to a counselor or therapist to "unload" on a weekly basis? These are all good solutions, but friends and family members can get weary of hearing us complain and a counselor is only there to listen at certain times. The ultimate solution is God. We can go to God any time. He is always ready to listen. He will bear our burdens.
Lord, thank you for listening to us and bearing our burdens. Please help us to come to you when we need share our problems. Amen.
who daily bears our burdens.
Who do you talk to when you need to vent and share your problems? Do you have a good friend or family member who listens to you? Do you go to a counselor or therapist to "unload" on a weekly basis? These are all good solutions, but friends and family members can get weary of hearing us complain and a counselor is only there to listen at certain times. The ultimate solution is God. We can go to God any time. He is always ready to listen. He will bear our burdens.
Lord, thank you for listening to us and bearing our burdens. Please help us to come to you when we need share our problems. Amen.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Psalm 60:10 - Rejected?
Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?
Just like David, there will be times in our life when we feel like God has rejected us. When we are not winning and we are struggling. There can be many different reasons for the struggle. God might be trying to teach us something, or it could just simply be the result of a fallen world. Even though we may feel like God has left us, he has not. Call out to him. Question him. He is listening.
Lord, thank you for loving us enough to hear us. Please let us feel your presence all the time. Amen.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Psalm 50:23 - Thankfulness
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”
Last night in the Ladies Class I attend, we discussed how being grateful is the solution to the problems we face. It was suggested that we keep a journal to list things we are thankful for. This is helpful while we are writing it down as well as when we reread it it times of struggle.
Lord, thank you for loving us and teaching us. Please help us to honor you with our thankfulness. Amen.
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”
Last night in the Ladies Class I attend, we discussed how being grateful is the solution to the problems we face. It was suggested that we keep a journal to list things we are thankful for. This is helpful while we are writing it down as well as when we reread it it times of struggle.
Lord, thank you for loving us and teaching us. Please help us to honor you with our thankfulness. Amen.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Psalm 36:5 - God is big
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
God is big. He is bigger than me and my problems, bigger than America and it's problems, bigger than the world and it's problems. God is omnipotent, all powerful. He is omnipresent, everywhere. He is omniscient, knows everything. But with all this bigness, he still cares about me and my problems. He loves each and every one of us. Amazing!
Lord, thank you for being so big. Please help us to know that you love us no matter what. Amen.
your faithfulness to the skies.
God is big. He is bigger than me and my problems, bigger than America and it's problems, bigger than the world and it's problems. God is omnipotent, all powerful. He is omnipresent, everywhere. He is omniscient, knows everything. But with all this bigness, he still cares about me and my problems. He loves each and every one of us. Amazing!
Lord, thank you for being so big. Please help us to know that you love us no matter what. Amen.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Psalm 34:19 - Troubles
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Everyone has troubles. The difference is when we are following God, we are promised deliverance from them. Without God, our troubles may just hang around.
Lord, thank you for promising to deliver us from our troubles. Please help us to wait on your deliverance. Amen.
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Everyone has troubles. The difference is when we are following God, we are promised deliverance from them. Without God, our troubles may just hang around.
Lord, thank you for promising to deliver us from our troubles. Please help us to wait on your deliverance. Amen.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Psalm 31:19 - Good things
How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
God has plans and blessings for us. That doesn't mean we won't have hard times, but God wants to bestow good things upon us. When we fear God and take refuge in him, he will bless us. The good times seem better and the bad times don't seem as bad when we rely on God. Those around us will notice and it will be a witness for God.
Lord, thank you for the good things you have stored up for us. Please help us to fear you and take refuge in you. Amen.
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
God has plans and blessings for us. That doesn't mean we won't have hard times, but God wants to bestow good things upon us. When we fear God and take refuge in him, he will bless us. The good times seem better and the bad times don't seem as bad when we rely on God. Those around us will notice and it will be a witness for God.
Lord, thank you for the good things you have stored up for us. Please help us to fear you and take refuge in you. Amen.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Psalm 30:11-12 - Wailing into dancing
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Just yesterday I heard three stories of tragic things which happened in people's lives, but this tragic thing produced a gift. None of us want to go through hard times, but God can use anything for his good. He takes our pain and transforms it into a blessing we could never have imagined.
Lord, thank you for using our pain in a beautiful way. Please help us to see the beauty you have created. Amen.
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Just yesterday I heard three stories of tragic things which happened in people's lives, but this tragic thing produced a gift. None of us want to go through hard times, but God can use anything for his good. He takes our pain and transforms it into a blessing we could never have imagined.
Lord, thank you for using our pain in a beautiful way. Please help us to see the beauty you have created. Amen.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Psalm 28:2 - Call for help
Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
The last couple of weeks and this upcoming week at work are challenging due to the number of hours I am working. I need help and I know who to ask. God will provide me with the strength, endurance, energy, and patience I will need to get through the next eight day.
Lord, thank you for being a source of help for us. Please help me be the best employee I can be over the next eight days. Amen.
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
The last couple of weeks and this upcoming week at work are challenging due to the number of hours I am working. I need help and I know who to ask. God will provide me with the strength, endurance, energy, and patience I will need to get through the next eight day.
Lord, thank you for being a source of help for us. Please help me be the best employee I can be over the next eight days. Amen.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Psalm 26:2 - Test me
Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
Wow. That is a bold thing to ask. "Test me, Lord." I don't think I have ever asked God to test me. Usually I am asking for peace and comfort. The purpose of a test is to check our knowledge and understanding, to confirm we have learned the lessons presented to us. It also shows us where we are weak and need to improve. I feel pretty mature and strong in my faith. Is it time for a test?
Lord, thank you for bringing me to my current level of faith. Please test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind. Amen.
Wow. That is a bold thing to ask. "Test me, Lord." I don't think I have ever asked God to test me. Usually I am asking for peace and comfort. The purpose of a test is to check our knowledge and understanding, to confirm we have learned the lessons presented to us. It also shows us where we are weak and need to improve. I feel pretty mature and strong in my faith. Is it time for a test?
Lord, thank you for bringing me to my current level of faith. Please test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind. Amen.
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